Today In History...............

In 1746...........

The Young Pretender, Prince Charles Edward Stewart and the Scottish Highland Clan members who had rallied to his cause were defeated by a British Army under the command of William, the Duke of Cumberland at the battle of Culloden. This was the last battle that was ever fought on English soil and was the end of the wars for Scottish Independence. In the aftermath of this battle, the British Army brutally suppressed the people of the Scottish highlands, forever breaking the clan system.

In 1912...........

Harriet Quimby, was the first woman to fly solo across the English Channel.


In 1917...........

Valdimir Ilyich Lenin after years of exile, was transported by the German government in a locked train car back to Russia. This was a effort to take the Russian Army out of the First World War but by opening this Pandora's box, the Germans caused the Russian Revolution. The effects of which are still felt to this day.

In 1922...........

Annie Oakley shot 100 clay targets in a row, setting a world record.

In 1945...........

The destroyer U.S.S. Laffey (DD-724) Became a part of naval legend when it survived three bomb and five Kamikaze hits (as well as two near bomb misses, which also caused damage) while off the coast of Okinawa. Known as "The ship that would not die" The Laffy survived this battle and proudly served on until she was retired and placed at Patriot's Point Museum Complex, Charleston, SC.
The post war years have not been so kind to this old war horse, It is reported that she is leaking and in danger of sinking at the dock.

In 1947.............

The largest harbor explosion occurred in Texas City, Texas. 576 people were killed when two ships loaded with Ammonium Nitrate fertilizer and fuel oil caught fire and exploded.