Tag Archives: Nelson Mandella

What to remember about February 11th…

• 1812  Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry redistricts his state to favor his party; “gerrymandering” is born
• 1847  American inventor and entrepreneur Thomas Alva Edison is born in Milan, Ohio (d. 1931) – celebrated as National Inventor’s Day
• 1916  Anarchist, abortion proponent Emma Goldman is arrested for violating Comstock Act; mentor of Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger
• 1942  2 German battleships and a heavy cruiser escape French port and British aircraft in “channel dash” to reach a safe port
• 1970  Japan becomes the world’s 4th “space power” with successful launch of satellite into orbit
• 1975  Margaret Thatcher becomes 1st woman to head a political party in England when she is elected to lead the Conservatives
• 1979  Iranian revolutionaries topple monarchy and parliament to establish theocratic Islamic Republic under Ayatollah Khomeini
• 1990  South African civil rights activist Nelson Mandella is released after 27 years in prison
• 2006  Vice-President Dick Cheney accidentally shoots Texas attorney Harry Whittington and wounds him while they hunt quail together
• 2012  American singer and actress Whitney Houston dies in hotel bathtub in Beverly Hills (b. 1963)
• 2013  Pope Benedict XVI resigns suddenly; 78-year old former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany is 1st Pontiff to resign since 1415

What to remember about February 11th…

• 1812  Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry redistricts his state to favor his party; “gerrymandering” is born
• 1847  American inventor and entrepreneur Thomas Alva Edison is born in Milan, Ohio (d. 1931) – celebrated as National Inventor’s Day
• 1916  Anarchist, abortion proponent Emma Goldman is arrested for violating Comstock Act; mentor of Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger
• 1942  2 German battleships and a heavy cruiser escape French port and British aircraft in “channel dash” to reach a safe port
• 1970  Japan becomes the world’s 4th “space power” with successful launch of satellite into orbit
• 1975  Margaret Thatcher becomes 1st woman to head a political party in England when she is elected to lead the Conservatives
• 1979  Iranian revolutionaries topple monarchy and parliament to establish theocratic Islamic Republic under Ayatollah Khomeini
• 1990  South African civil rights activist Nelson Mandella is released after 27 years in prison
• 2006  Vice-President Dick Cheney accidentally shoots Texas attorney Harry Whittington and wounds him while they hunt quail together
• 2012  American singer and actress Whitney Houston dies in hotel bathtub in Beverly Hills (b. 1963)
• 2013  Pope Benedict XVI resigns suddenly; 78-year old former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany is 1st Pontiff to resign since 1415