What Happened On This Day In History?

Friday, May 24th 2013

Today is the 144th day of 2013. There are 221 days left in this year.

Notable Events

1830

The first passenger railroad in the United States began service between Baltimore and Elliott's Mills, Md.

1844

Samuel F.B. Morse transmitted the message, ''What hath God wrought!'' from Washington to Baltimore as he formally opened America's first telegraph line.

1881

Some 200 people died when the Canadian ferry Princess Victoria sank near London, Ontario.

1883

The Brooklyn Bridge, linking Brooklyn and Manhattan, was opened to traffic.

1935

The first major-league baseball game played at night took place at Cincinnati's Crosley Field as the Reds beat the Philadelphia Phillies 2-1.

1941

The German battleship Bismarck sank the British dreadnought Hood in the North Atlantic.

1958

United Press International was formed through a merger of the United Press and the International News Service.

1976

Britain and France opened trans-Atlantic Concorde service to Washington.

1992

Al Unser Jr. became the first second-generation winner of the Indianapolis 500; his father, four-time winner Al Unser, finished third.

1994

Four men convicted of bombing New York's World Trade Center were each sentenced to 240 years in prison.

1995

''Hollywood Madam'' Heidi Fleiss was sentenced to three years in prison and fined $1,500 for running a call girl ring that catered to the rich and famous.

2000

Israeli troops pulled out unilaterally from south Lebanon, ending 18 yearsof occupation.

Notable Births

1819

Queen Victoria was born in London.

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