September 21st was the day in history when...
1981: Sandra Day O'Connor became the first female Supreme Court Justice. She was appointed by President Ronald Reagan and served as an Associate Justice until she retired in 2006. For many years O'Connor was the leading centrist on the court which gave her a lot of power.
1937: J R R Tolkien published The Hobbit. It is the story of a little elf-like creature named Bilbo Baggins who undertakes a dangerous journey in search of a treasure which is guarded by a dragon. The award winning book was an instant success and has never been out of print since it was first published.
1780: Benedict Arnold gave British Major Andre plans to the fort at West Point. Arnold served in George Washington's army for many years. Over time he had become disenchanted. His notoriously hot temper had gotten him in into several predicaments, and he had been passed over for promotion. Frustrated and heavily in debt, Arnold started selling information about troop movements and strength to the British as early as the spring of 1779. On this date Benedict Arnold sold plans to Major John Andre for a fort at West Point, New York, for which he was paid 10,000 pounds. Andre was caught with the plans, which revealed Arnold as a traitor. The British officer was hanged and Arnold fled to the British side, where he remained for the rest of the war. He then fled to England where he stayed until his death in 1804..
1776: Nathan Hale was arrested for spying on British troops for the American rebels. Hale volunteered on September 8, 1776 to go behind enemy lines and report on British troop movements. He was aware of the inherent danger of the mission, but took it on proudly. On this date Nathan Hale was captured when he was tricked into revealing himself as a rebel. He was hanged the following morning. Before his death, he was reported to have uttered the famous phrase, "I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country."
Famous Birthdays:
1981: Nicole Richie- actress/socialite
1968: Ricki Lake- actress/talk show host
1967: Faith Hill- country music singer
1950: Bill Murray- actor/comedian
1947: Stephen King- science fiction author
1912: Chuck Jones- animator, Bugs Bunny
Notable People Lost:
1998: Florence Griffith Joyner- Olympic runner
1991: Angelo Rossitto- dwarf known as "Little Moe"/actor
1974: Jacqueline Susann- author, Valley of the Dolls
Odd Holidays (There's Always Something to Celebrate!):
Miniature Golf Day
World Gratitude Day
International Day of Peace
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Beth's Blog: It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time
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