On this day

[Henry M]

In 1653, the Dutch fleet under Van Tromp was defeated by the English 
at the Battle of Portland.  

In 1707, Aurangzeb, the last of the great Mughal emperors of India,
died. Under his rule, the Mughal Empire reached its furthest extent. 

In 1792, George Washington signed the Postal Act, creating the 
Federal Postal System (W.A.S.T.E.)

In 1811, Austria declared itself bankrupt.  

In 1938, British Foreign Minister Anthony Eden resigned in protest at
Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's policy of appeasement toward
Germany.  

In 1947, Lord Louis Mountbatten was named as the last viceroy of
India.  

In 1962, John Glenn became the first U.S. astronaut in Earth's orbit
when the Mercury capsule Friendship VII launched him into space.  
(He's now retiring from politics.)

In 1984, Harris Shoerats, the oldest man in Britain, died at age 111.

In 1985, the sale of contraceptives was made legal in Ireland.  

In 1990, Soviet Parliamentary leaders proposed a draft law which 
would allow the republics the right to break away from the Soviet
Union. The law provided for any secession proposal to be decided by a
referendum. (a tip'o'the hat to RR. No, not Mr. Romeo.)

Today:

Film director Robert Altman is 72

Patty Hearst (Shaw) is 43

AsB4
Keep cool, but care. -- TRP
Moderation in moderation. -- Husky Mariner
m1,ru12? - HDM, d1