This Day in History – October 13, 2011

54 Nero ascends to the Roman throne 1773 The Whirlpool Galaxy is discovered by Charles Messier. 1775 The United States Continental Congress orders the establishment of the Continental Navy (later renamed the United States Navy). 1792 In Washington, D.C., the cornerstone of the United States Executive Mansion (known as the White House since 1818) is laid. 1843 In New York City, Henry Jones and 11 others found B’nai B’rith (the oldest Jewish service organization in the world). 1845 A majority of voters in the Republic of Texas approve a proposed constitution, that if accepted by the U.S. Congress, will make Texas a U.S. state. 1860 1st aerial photo taken in US (from a balloon), Boston 1881 Revival of the Hebrew language as Eliezer Ben-Yehuda and friends agree to use Hebrew exclusively in their conversations. 1885 The Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) is founded in Atlanta, United States. 1892 Edward Emerson Barnard discovers D/1892 T1, the first comet discovered by photographic means, on the night of October 13–14. 1917 The “Miracle of the Sun” is witnessed by an estimated 70,000 people in the Cova da Iria in Fátima, Portugal. 1943 World War II: The new government of Italy sides with the Allies and declares war on Germany. 1953 Burglar alarm-ultrasonic or radio waves-patented-Samuel Bagno 1962 The Pacific Northwest experiences a cyclone the equal of a Cat 3 hurricane. Winds measured above 150 mph at several locations; 46 people died. 1963 “Beatlemania” is coined after the Beatles appear at the Palladium 1970 Fiji joins the United Nations. 1976 The first electron micrograph of an Ebola viral particle is obtained by Dr. F.A. Murphy, now at U.C. Davis, who was then working at the C.D.C. 1982 IOC restores 2 gold medals from 1912 Olympics to Jim Thorpe 1983 Ameritech Mobile Communications (now AT&T) launched the first US cellular network in Chicago, Illinois. 1987 1st military use of trained dolphins (US Navy in Persian Gulf) 1999 The United States Senate rejects ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). 2010 The 2010 Copiapó mining accident in Copiapó, Chile comes to an end as all 33 miners arrive at the surface after surviving a record 69 days underground awaiting rescue.]]]]> ]]>