1879
Technology
Edison Demonstrates Incandescent Light
Thomas Edison publicly demonstrated his incandescent light bulb at his Menlo Park laboratory. The demonstration proved the practical viability of electric lighting and changed civilization.
On This Day in History
1600
Politics
East India Company Chartered
Queen Elizabeth I granted a royal charter to the East India Company. The trading company would become one of the most powerful organizations in history, effectively ruling much of India for centuries.
1759
Culture
Arthur Guinness Signs 9,000-Year Lease
Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000-year lease for the St. James's Gate Brewery in Dublin. The brewery would produce the world's most famous stout and become synonymous with Irish culture.
1857
Politics
Queen Victoria Chooses Ottawa as Capital
Queen Victoria chose Ottawa as the capital of the Province of Canada. The relatively small lumber town was selected partly because of its distance from the American border.
1999
Politics
Panama Canal Transferred
The United States formally transferred control of the Panama Canal to Panama, fulfilling the 1977 Carter-Torrijos Treaties. The handover ended over 90 years of American control of the waterway.
1961
Politics
Marshall Plan Ends
The US-funded European Recovery Program officially ended after disbursing over $13 billion to rebuild Europe. The Marshall Plan is credited with preventing communist expansion and reviving European economies.
1695
Culture
Window Tax Introduced in England
England introduced a tax on windows, leading many homeowners to brick up windows to reduce their tax burden. The unpopular tax lasted until 1851 and gave rise to the phrase 'daylight robbery.'