Did you know that it was on this day in 1642 Abel Tasman becomes first European to land in New Zealand? Or that it was on this day in 1777 the United States celebrates its first Thanksgiving, marking the recent victory by the Americans over General John Burgoyne in the Battle of Saratoga in October?
And on this day in 1888 Richard Wetherill and his brother in-law discover the ancient Indian ruins of Cliff Palace in Mesa Verde, in 1912 the Piltdown Man, later discovered to be a hoax, is announced by Charles Dawson, in 1916, during World War I, the Battle of Verdun ends when German forces under Chief of Staff Erich Von Falkenhayn are defeated by the French, and suffer 337,000 casualties, in 1966 Saturn‘s moon Epimetheus is discovered by Richard L. Walker and in 1987 Larry Wall releases the first version of the Perl programming language.
Some birthdays to remember on this day are Joseph Grimaldi, English clown (1778-1837), Joseph Stalin, leader of the Soviet Union (1878-1953), Paul Klee, Swiss-born painter (1879-1940), Willy Brandt, Chancellor of Germany, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize (1913-1992), Betty Grable, American actress (1916-1973), Keith Richards, English guitarist (The Rolling Stones) (1943), Steve Biko, South African anti-apartheid activist (d. 1977) and Steven Spielberg, American film director (both born 1946), Ray Liotta, American actor (1954), Brad Pitt, American actor (1963), Katie Holmes, American actress (1978) and Christina Aguilera, American singer (1980).
Need a reason to raise a glass of bubbly on this day? Why not toast to International Migrants Day (International), New Jersey Day (New Jersey) or Republic Day (Niger)?
For more information about historic events on this day, please go here.
A Glass of Bubbly 