Somewhere on Earth on a day not too unlike a day like today…
in 1260, Mamelukes under Sultan Qutuz defeat Mongols and Crusaders at Ain Jalut.
in 1783, The Revolutionary War between the U.S. and Great Britain ended with the Treaty of Paris.
in 1838, Frederick Douglass boarded a train in Maryland on his way to freedom from being a slave.
In 1939, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, in a radio broadcast, announced that Britain and France had declared war on Germany. Germany had invaded Poland on September 1.
In 1958, the nuclear-powered submarine Nautilus became the first vessel to cross the North Pole underwater.
Today’s Birthday
Ferdinand Porsche (1875)
Despite having little formal education in engineering, Porsche showed enormous natural aptitude. After working in the automotive industry for some time, the Austrian formed his own firm and began designing vehicles on commission—one of which resulted in the original Volkswagen Beetle. His success in making Hitler’s vision for a “people’s car” a reality led to further commissions, and Porsche went on to design various military vehicles for the Germans.
Daily Trivia:
One of today’s dates references the American war for Independence. As will be discussed in class, this conflict was truly on a global scale and involved nations other than just the new United States and the colonial empire of the British. What nation is most responsible for helping the upstart Americans in the revolution against England?