December 4th, 2008

Today in History

1958:
Dahomey (present-day Benin) becomes a self-governing country within the French Community.

1906:
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity in the United States established for men of African descent, was founded at Cornell University.

1875:
Notorious New York City politician Boss Tweed escapes from prison and flees to Cuba, then Spain.

1867:
Former Minnesota farmer Oliver Hudson Kelley founds the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry (better known today as the Grange Movement).

1791:
The first issue of The Observer, the world's first Sunday newspaper, is published.