Saddam Hussein captured (2003); Nanjing massacre begins (1937); first successful abdominal surgery performed (1809); GW Bush declared winner of 2000 election; Permanent Court of International Justice established (1920); Sir Francis Drake sets out to circumnavigate the globe (1577); production of Susan B. Anthony dollar begins (1978); first American furs exported (1621); Getty Center opens in Los Angeles (1997); clip tie invented (1928).
Saddam Hussein was captured. (2003) US forces find Iraq’s former leader hiding in a cellar near Tikrit. He was later convicted of crimes against humanity and was hanged on December 30, 2006.
The Nanjing massacre begins. (1937) Japanese forces enter Nanjing and proceed to murder and rape hundreds of thousands of Chinese civilians. It was one of the worst mass murders and war rapes in history. The officers in charge of the attack were later charged with war crimes and sentenced to death by hanging.
The first successful abdominal surgery procedure was performed in the United States. (1809) Dr. Ephraim McDowell removed a 22 lb (about 10 kg) tumor from Jane Todd Crawford’s ovary. Crawford had previously been wrongly diagnosed as pregnant with twins. The surgery was performed without anesthesia or antiseptics, but Crawford recovered fully and quickly. McDowell has been called the “father of the ovariotomy,” after which he went on to perform similar surgeries, including a hernia repair for President James Polk.
President GW Bush was declared the winner of the 2000 election. (2000) The disputed 2000 US presidential election ended when Al Gore conceded the presidency to GW Bush after days of recounts.
The Permanent Court of International Justice is established. (1920) Associated with the League of Nations, the Permanent Court of International Justice could issue judgments and give opinions on international matters when requested. Although it dissolved along with the League of Nations, it laid the foundation for the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
Sir Francis Drake has decided to go around the world. (1577) Drake, a pirate by preference, sets out with a fleet of five ships to circumnavigate the globe and, in doing so, cause as much trouble as possible for the Spanish. He became the second man to circumnavigate the globe after Magellan. The money and loot he collected on the voyage enabled Queen Elizabeth I to pay off all of Britain’s debts at the time.
Production of the Susan B. Anthony dollar begins. (1978) Honoring Susan B. Anthony, a famous suffragette and women’s rights advocate, the Susan B. Anthony dollar was the first U.S. coin to honor a non-fictional woman.
The first American furs were exported. (1621) Robert Cushman, a British trader, began his return journey to England laden with furs from Plymouth Colony in colonial America. The fur trade would grow to be a major source of income for ancient America and help boost a struggling economy.
The Getty Center has opened in Los Angeles. (1997) Home to the Getty Research Institute, the Getty Center is famous for its distinctive architecture including the Central Garden and the Getty Museum displaying famous works by Gauguin and Van Gogh, among others.
The clip tie is said to have been invented. (1928) While it’s not entirely clear who invented it, legend has it that he was a mortician who struggled too much to tie up his corpses.
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