REAL LIFE

Today in History   December 21 68 Vespian, a gruff-spoken general of humble origins, enters Rome and is named emperor by the Senate. 1620 The Pilgrims land at or near Plymouth Rock. 1708 French forces seize control of the eastern shore of Newfoundland after winning a victory at St. John's. 1790 Samuel Slater opens the first cotton mill in the United States (in Rhode Island). 1862 The U.S. Congress authorizes the  Medal of Honor  to be awarded to Navy personnel who have distinguished themselves by their gallantry in action. 1866 Indians, led by  Red Cloud  and  Crazy Horse , kill  Captain William J. Fetterman  and 79 other men who had ventured out from Fort Phil Kearny to cut wood. 1910 Over 2.5 million plague victims are reported in the An-Hul province of China. 1928 President  Calvin Coolidge  signs the Boulder Dam bill. 1944 German troops surround the  101st Airborne Division  at  Bastogne  in Belgium. 1...

401  St. Innocent I begins his reign as Catholic Pope 795  Leo III succeeds pope Adrianus I 1135  Norman nobles recognize Stefanus van Blois as English king 1216  Pope Honorius III delegates degree "Religiosam vitam eligentibus" 1465  Peace of St Truiden: Louis van Bourbon becomes bishop of Liège 1536  English scholar Reginald Pole appointed cardinal 1596  Ferryboat Meuniers crashes in Paris, 150 die 1642  Pope Urbanus VIII publishes degree In eminente 1688  Pro-James II, Earl of Danby occupies York 1689  Heavy earthquake strikes Innsbruck 1715  English pretender to the throne James III lands at Peterhead 1731  Dutch people revolt against meat tax 1772  Moravian missionary constructs 1st schoolhouse west of Allegheny 1775  Continental navy organized with 7 ships 1790  Supposedly impenetrable Turkish fortress of Izmail stormed and captured by Suvorov and his Russian armies during the Russo-Turkish...