Today in 1822, the city of Boston was incorporated.
Today in 1836, Mexican troops began the siege of the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas. The siege only ended in an assault on March 6th that killed almost all of the remaining Texan defenders.
Today in 1855, officials attempted to hang murderer John Lee in England. Every time they tried to release the trap door, it failed. When they tested it without him, it opened. After several attempts, they gave up and changed his sentence to life in prison.
Today in 1903, the United States began leasing land for a naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Today in 1905, attorney Paul Harris founded The Rotary Club in Chicago, Illinois. A national association of the very popular civic club was formed in 1910 and, in 1922 the organization which was for 'men only', adopted the name Rotary International. It continues to this day with millions of members throughout the world -- both men and women. Clever members choose the name "Rotary" because subsequent meetings will be held in rotation at their places of business.
Today in 1927, the Federal Radio Commission, later known as the Federal Communications Commission, went into operation as the Radio Act of 1927 was signed into law by President Calvin Coolidge.
Today in 1954, Jonas Salk's polio vaccine was first administered to schoolchildren in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Today in 1972, Elvis Presley and Priscilla separated. They had married in May of 1967 – their daughter, Lisa Marie, is his only child. While the divorce was final the following year, rumors abounded that Elvis never got over his “Cilla.”
Today in 1999, a jury in Jasper, Texas convicted white supremacist John William King of murder in the gruesome dragging death of a black man, James Byrd Junior; King was sentenced to death two days later.
Today in 2020, African American Ahmaud Arbery shot to death after being chased down by three white men in Brunswick, Georgia. Video of the killing emerged the following May, finally prompting the arrests of Gregory McMichael, his son Travis, and William "Roddie" Bryan. All three have since been convicted and were sentenced to life. The McMichaels have no chance of parole, Bryan does have the possibility of parole.