Today in History
Published 1:30 am Saturday, March 30, 2019
Today is Saturday, March 30, the 89th day of 2019. There are 276 days left in the year.
Today’s highlight: On March 30, 1867, U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward reached agreement with Russia to purchase the territory of Alaska for $7.2 million, a deal ridiculed by critics as “Seward’s Folly.”
On this date:
In 1822, Florida became a United States territory.
In 1923, the Cunard liner RMS Laconia became the first passenger ship to circle the globe as it arrived in New York.
In 1945, during World War II, the Soviet Union invaded Austria with the goal of taking Vienna, which it accomplished two weeks later.
In 1970, Triple Crown winner Secretariat was born at The Meadow near Doswell, Virginia.
In 1975, as the Vietnam War neared its end, Communist forces occupied the city of Da Nang.
In 2002, Britain’s Queen Mother Elizabeth died at Royal Lodge, Windsor, outside London; she was 101 years old.
Today’s Birthdays: Game show host Peter Marshall is 93. Actor John Astin is 89. Actor-director Warren Beatty is 82. Rock musician Eric Clapton is 74. Actor Justin Deas is 71. Actor Paul Reiser is 63. Rap artist MC Hammer is 57. Singer Tracy Chapman is 55. TV personality Piers Morgan is 54. Rock musician Joey Castillo is 53. Actress Donna D’Errico is 51. Singer Celine Dion is 51. TV personality/producer Richard Rawlings is 50. Actor Mark Consuelos is 48.
Thought for Today: “We do not talk — we bludgeon one another with facts and theories gleaned from cursory readings of newspapers, magazines and digests.” — Henry Miller, American author (1891-1980).
—Associated Press
