TODAY IN HISTORY

FEBRUARY 25

1570

Elizabeth I, queen of England, was excommunicated by Pope Pius V.

1836

Samuel Colt patented the first revolving barrel multishot firearm.

1870

Hiram Revels became the first black United States senator, taking over the term of Jefferson Davis.

1901

J.P. Morgan formed U.S. Steel Corporation, the first billion-dollar corporation in the world.

1948

Communists took control of the government in Czechoslovakia.

1964

Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) became world heavyweight boxing champion for the first time by knocking out Sonny Liston in Miami Beach.

1983

Tennessee Williams, American playwright, died.

1986

President Ferdinand Marcos fled the Philippines; Corazon Aquino took over the office.

1990

Violeta Chamorro was elected president of Nicaragua, a victory for opponents of the Sandinistas.