December 5th, 2008

Today in History

1974:
The last new episode of Monty Python's Flying Circus is broadcast on the BBC.

1941:
The nonfiction book Sea of Cortez by John Steinbeck is published (Steinbeck used knowledge gained writing this book to develop the marine biologist character Doc in Cannery Row).

1831:
Former US President John Quincy Adams takes a seat in the United States House of Representatives.

1776:
At the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, the Phi Beta Kappa is founded as the first scholastic fraternity in the United States.

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