History Schmistory: August 9. No more Richard jokes!

1974: President Richard M. Nixon becomes the only US president in history to resign. He does, however, retain the rights to all merchandising.
By Edmund S. Valtman [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

By Edmund S. Valtman [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Ludicrous Latin: Nulli Secundus

Second to none


… … Don’t tell this guy
 

History Schmistory: August 8. Riiiiiicolaaaa!

1786: The first successful ascent of the highest mountain in the Alps and western Europe, Mont Blanc. Sadly, both climbers forgot to bring their Alphorns.

© Hans Hillewaert / , via Wikimedia Commons

© Hans Hillewaert / , via Wikimedia Commons

History Schmistory: August 7. Otto-matic

936: Otto the Great is elected King of the Germans.
By Photographer: Ajepbah; edit: Crisco 1492 [CC BY-SA 3.0 de (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en)], via Wikimedia Commons

By Photographer: Ajepbah; edit: Crisco 1492 [CC BY-SA 3.0 de (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en)], via Wikimedia Commons

History Schmistory: August 6. Rastafar-from English

1962: Jamaica becomes independent from Britain.
jamaica-673591_640

History Schmistory: August 5. The Original “Harry”

1100: Henry I is crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey. This particular Henry was not significant enough for Shakespeare, and conveniently skipped.

History Schmistory: August 4. It was good to be Queen -Mother

1900: Queen Elizabeth, ‘the Queen Mother’ is born. Not to be confused with Elizabeth II, who will most likely live forever.

By Allan warren (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

By Allan warren (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

History Schmistory: August 3. La Scala-kazam!

1778: La Scala Opera House opens in Milan, Italy, with a show by F. Murray Abraham’s character in Amadeus.
By ungenannt [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

By ungenannt [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Speaking of mediocre composers, here’s a Marco classic!

History Schmistory: August 2. Bay of Henry?

1610: Explorer Henry Hudson enters the bay later named after him, the Hudson Bay. Since his crew mutinied and left him for dead, an apology card was also in order. It’s in a bottle, floating out there somewhere. Sorry Hud!

By Neemster (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

By Neemster (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

History Schmistory: August 1. Breathe, durn-it!

1774: Oxygen is ‘discovered’ by Britain’s Sir Joseph Priestly, and given a symbol (O), though most refer to it as “the substance formerly known as air.”
By penner (http://flickr.com/photos/penner/2450784866) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

By penner (http://flickr.com/photos/penner/2450784866) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

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