By Michelle Dumas
By the rude bridge that arched the flood,
Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled,
Here once the embattled farmers stood,
And fired the shot heard round the world.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson, from “Concord Hymn”
Patriots Day commemorates the events of April 19, 1775, that marked the start of the American Revolutionary War, especially the midnight rides of Paul Revere and others to warn of the approach of British troops, and the battles of Lexington and Concord. Today, Massachusetts and Maine celebrate Patriots Day as a legal holiday on the third Monday in April, with reenactments and other events.
Learn more about the first shots fired on Lexington Green to “the shot heard round the world” at Concord’s North Bridge by visiting the Minute Man National Park in Concord. The annual running of the Boston Marathon also takes place on this day. You may want to do your patriotic duty and check out the official Web site of the Boston Marathon, sponsored by the Boston Athletic Association.”
Question of the Day
What are some ways that people paid taxes in the past?
Advice of the Day
Home Hint of the Day
Word of the Day
Aphelion
Puzzle of the Day
What did one arithmetic book say to the other arithmetic book?
Born
- Leonardo da Vinci (artist) –
- Bessie Smith (legendary blues singer) –
- Elizabeth Montgomery (American actress ) –
- Emma Thompson (actress) –
- Emma Watson (actress) –
Died
- Abraham Lincoln (16th U.S. president) –
- Jean-Paul Sartre (writer & philosopher) –
- Greta Garbo (actress) –
- John Curry (figure skater) –
- Byron White (Supreme Court justice) –
Events
- American School for the Deaf founded in Hartford, Connecticut–
- First state entomologist position approved, New York–
- President Lincoln called for 75,000 Union militia volunteers–
- Last day U.S. silver coins allowed to circulate in Canada–
- Canadian thanksgiving day held after Prince of Wales recovered from serious illness–
- General Electric Co. is incorporated–
- R.M.S. Titanic sank in early morning after striking iceberg on April 14th in late evening–
- First Canadian small penny coin released–
- Insulin became available for general use–
- After acquiring franchising rights from the McDonald brothers, Dick and Maurice, Ray Kroc opened his first McDonald’s chain restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois–
- Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel opened, Virginia-Delmarva Peninsula–
- First national lottery drawing in Canada–
Weather
- Tornado in Alabama–
- Boulder, Colorado, received 76 inches of snow in 24 hours–
- Tornadoes strike Arkansas and Texas–
COURTESY www.almanac.com
