December 5th, 2008

Today in History

1484:
Pope Innocent VIII writes a Papal Bull that sets the inquisition into full swing and leads to the deaths hundreds of thousands of people accused of being witches

1766:
In London, James Christie holds his first sale (he later founded Christie's, the world's oldest auction house).

1992:
Kent Conrad of North Dakota resigns his seat in the United States Senate and is sworn into the other seat from North Dakota, becoming the only US Senator ever to have held two seats on the same day.

1560:
Francis II of France dies and is succeeded by Charles IX of France.

1932:
German physicist Albert Einstein granted a visa