Jesus and Tom Jones make sweet music!

1971

“She’s a Lady” by Tom Jones gets a gold record. Yeah, 500,000 people bought that song. Your mom was probably one of them.

1966

The U.S. Supreme Court rules that the poll tax unconstitutional. Yay voting rights!

1965

Martin Luther King, Jr. leads a 25,000 person strong march on the state capitol in Montgomery, Alabama.

1882

The first public demonstration of pancake making occurs in a New York department store. First implies that there have been multiple. New career goal: professional pancake making demonstrator. I’ve been milling around in the minors for a while and I didn’t even know it! I make a mean short stack; need to work on my buckwheat.

1863

The first Army Medal of Honor is awarded. Yeah courage. Or valiant-ness. Or ability to stay alive, or something.

1807

The first railway passenger service begins in England. Trains… for people. Craziness.

1807

The British Parliament abolishes the slave trade.

1753

Voltaire leaves the court of Frederik II of Prussia. Someone smarter than me can make a joke here. I read Candide, sort of. Does that count for anything?

1668

The first horse race in America takes place. You know, like NASCAR. With no fiery crashes, but more betting.

31

The First Easter, according to calendar-maker Dionysius Exiguus.

Blow out the candles!

1947 Singer/knight Elton John

1942 Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, who makes sure everyone remembers that (that’s to you Beyonce).

1940 Homophobe/ singer Anita Bryant

1934 Feminist/author Gloria Steinem

1925 Writer Flannery O’Connor

1133 Bow down to Henry II, King of England