This Day in History – February 25, 2011

1570 – Elizabeth I, queen of England, was excommunicated by Pope Pius V. 1836 – Samuel Colt patented the first revolving barrel multishot firearm.   1870 – Hiram Revels became the first black United States senator, taking over the term of Jefferson Davis.   1901 – J.P. Morgan formed U.S. Steel Corporation, the first billion-dollar corporation in the world.   1948 – Communists took control of the government in Czechoslovakia.   1964 – Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) became world heavyweight boxing champion for the first time by knocking out Sonny Liston in Miami Beach.   1983 – Tennessee Williams, American playwright, died.   1986 – President Ferdinand Marcos fled the Philippines; Corazon Aquino took over the office.   1990 – Violeta Chamorro was elected president of Nicaragua, a victory for opponents of the Sandinistas.]]]]> ]]>