WEDNESDAY, July 2, the 183rd day of 2014 with 182 to follow. Sunrise in the Boston area is @ 5:11 and sunset is @ 8:25. The moon is waxing. The morning stars are stars are Mercury, Neptune, Uranus & Venus. The evening stars are Jupiter, Mars & Saturn.
ON THIS DAY IN: 1776 – The Continental Congress passed a resolution saying that “these United Colonies are, and of right, ought to be, Free and Independent States.”
1777-Vermontbecame the first American colony to abolishslavery.
1788- TheConstitution of the United States of Americawent into effect after nine states ratified it.
1839- Africans on the Cuban schoonerAmistadrose up against their captors, killing two crew members and seizing control of the ship, which had been transporting them to a life of slavery on a sugar plantation atPuerto Príncipe,Cuba.
1850- The gas mask was patented byB.J. LaneofCambridge,Massachusetts.
1857-New York City’s first elevated railroad opened for business.
1881- Only four months into his administration, PresidentJames A. Garfieldwas shot at the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad DepotinWashington, D.C.; he died in September from his wounds.
1890-Congresspassed theSherman Antitrust Act.
1900- CountFerdinand Graf von Zeppelinsuccessfully demonstrated the world’s first rigid airship.
1900- The second modernOlympic Gamesopened inParis.
1926- TheUnited States Army Air Corpswas created.
1937- AviatorAmelia Earhartand navigator Fred Noonan disappeared over thePacific Oceanwhile attempting to make the first round-the-world flight at the equator.
1947- A purported Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) crashed nearRoswell,New Mexico. This report has been the subject of controversy ever since.
1955- “The Lawrence Welk Show” premiered on television.
1964- U.S. PresidentLyndon B. Johnsonsigned into law theCivil Rights Act of 1964; it was sweeping legislation prohibiting racial discrimination in employment and education, and outlawing racial segregation in public facilities.
1976- TheSupreme Courtruled the death penalty was not inherently cruel or unusual.
2000-Vicente Fox Quesadais the firstPresident of Mexicoelected from an opposition party since 1920.
2002- AmericanSteve Fossettbecame the first person to fly a balloon solo around the world.