January 9th, 2009

Today in History

1882:
Oscar Wilde gives his first lecture on "The English Renaissance of Art" in New York.

1861:
Mississippi becomes the second state to secede from the Union, preceding the American Civil War.

1793:
Jean-Pierre Blanchard becomes the first to fly in a balloon in the United States.

1768:
Philip Astley stages the first modern circus (London).

1760:
Afghans defeat Marathas in Battle of Barari Ghat.