Today:
1709 – The first known ascent in a hot air balloon took place in Lisbon.
1786 – Mont Blanc was first climbed by Michel-Gabriel Paccard and Jacques Balmat.
1876 – Thomas Edison received a patent for his mimeograph.
1908 – Wilbur Wright made his first flight at a racecourse at Le Mans, France.
1929 – The German airship Graf Zeppelin began a round-the-world flight.
1942 – During World War II, six Germans were executed in Washington, D.C. for espionage.
1945 – The Soviet Union declared war on Japan during World War II.
1963 – The Great Train Robbery took place in England, with robbers stealing £2.6 million.
1974 – President Richard Nixon announced his resignation from the presidency of the United States.
2008 – The 2008 Summer Olympics officially opened in Beijing, China.
Disclaimer: Snake does not fact check these items. In fact, he doesn’t even read them before posting. Often he doesn’t read them after posting. If you have a complaint, click here