Today in History: Oct. 25
Today’s Highlight in History:
On Oct. 25, 1854, the “Charge of the Light Brigade” took place during the Crimean War as an English brigade of more than 600 men charged the Russian army, suffering heavy losses.
On this date:
In 1415, during the Hundred Years’ War, outnumbered English soldiers led by Henry V defeated French troops in the Battle of Agincourt in northern France.
In 1760, Britain’s King George III succeeded his late grandfather, George II.
In 1929, former Interior Secretary Albert B. Fall was convicted in Washington, D.C. of accepting a $100,000 bribe from oil tycoon Edward L. Doheny. (Fall was sentenced to a year in prison and fined $100,000; he ended up serving nine months.)
In 1854, the “Charge of the Light Brigade” took place during the Crimean War as an English brigade of more than 600 men charged the Russian army, suffering heavy losses. (Photo by Time Life Pictures/Mansell/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)
In 1929, former Interior Secretary Albert B. Fall was convicted in Washington, D.C. of accepting a $100,000 bribe from oil tycoon Edward L. Doheny. (Fall was sentenced to a year in prison and fined $100,000; he ended up serving nine months.)
Here, Albert B. Fall, former Secretary of the Interior, leaving the District of Columbia Court House in Washington on Oct. 25, 1929, after having been found guilty of accepting a bribe of $100,000 in connection with the lease of the Navy’s Elk Hills Oil Reserve. (AP Photo)
In 1945, Taiwan became independent of Japanese colonial rule.
In this AP photo, performers show their skills during the National Day celebrations in Taipei, Taiwan, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017. Taiwan’s independence-leaning government will defend the self-governing island’s freedoms and democratic system amid heightened tensions with rival China, President Tsai Ing-wen said Tuesday. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
In 1957, mob boss Albert Anastasia of “Murder Inc.” notoriety was shot to death by masked gunmen in a barber shop inside the Park Sheraton Hotel in New York. (Photo by Fred Morgan/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)
In 1962, during a meeting of the U.N. Security Council, U.S. Ambassador Adlai E. Stevenson II demanded that Soviet Ambassador Valerian Zorin confirm or deny the existence of Soviet-built missile bases in Cuba, saying he was prepared to wait “until hell freezes over” for an answer; Stevenson then presented photographic evidence of the bases to the Council. (Photo by Alan Oxley/Getty Images)
In 1983, a U.S.-led force invaded Grenada at the order of President Ronald Reagan, who said the action was needed to protect U.S. citizens there. (Photo by Matthew Naythons/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images)
In the 2005 World Series, the Chicago White Sox and the Houston Astros began playing Game 3, which turned into a 14-inning marathon that did not end until well after midnight with Chicago winning, 7-5. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
In 2014, the World Health Organization said more than 10,000 people had been infected with Ebola and that nearly half of them had died as the outbreak continued to spread.
In 1939, the play “The Time of Your Life,” by William Saroyan, opened in New York.
In 1945, Taiwan became independent of Japanese colonial rule.
In 1954, a meeting of President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Cabinet was carried live on radio and television; to date, it’s the only presidential Cabinet meeting to be broadcast.
In 1957, mob boss Albert Anastasia of “Murder Inc.” notoriety was shot to death by masked gunmen in a barber shop inside the Park Sheraton Hotel in New York.
In 1962, during a meeting of the U.N. Security Council, U.S. Ambassador Adlai E. Stevenson II demanded that Soviet Ambassador Valerian Zorin confirm or deny the existence of Soviet-built missile bases in Cuba; Stevenson then presented photographic evidence of the bases to the Council.
In 1971, the U.N. General Assembly voted to admit mainland China and expel Taiwan.
In 1983, a U.S.-led force invaded Grenada at the order of President Ronald Reagan, who said the action was needed to protect U.S. citizens there.
In 1994, Susan Smith of Union, South Carolina, claimed that a black carjacker had driven off with her two young sons (Smith later confessed to drowning the children in John D. Long Lake, and was convicted of murder). Three defendants were convicted in South Africa of murdering American exchange student Amy Biehl.
In 2002, U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone, D-Minn., was killed in a plane crash in northern Minnesota along with his wife, daughter and five others, a week and a-half before the election. Actor Richard Harris died in London at age 72.
Ten years ago: President George W. Bush visited Southern California, telling residents weary from five days of wildfires: “We’re not going to forget you in Washington, D.C.” The Boston Red Sox beat the Colorado Rockies 2-1 at Fenway to take a 2-0 World Series lead.
Five years ago: President Barack Obama, seeking to shore up support among women, intensified his pressure on Mitt Romney to break any ties with a Republican Senate candidate, Richard Mourdock of Indiana, who said that if a woman became pregnant from rape it was “something God intended.” Romney ignored the emotional social issue, holding to an optimistic campaign tone as he fought for victory in crucial Ohio.
One year ago: A federal judge in San Francisco approved a nearly $15 billion settlement, giving nearly a half-million Volkswagen owners and leaseholders the choice between selling their diesel engine cars back or having them repaired so they didn’t cheat on emissions tests and spew excess pollution. Four people were killed in a river rapids ride accident at a popular theme park in Queensland, Australia. The Cleveland Indians beat the Chicago Cubs 6-0 in the World Series opener.
Five years ago: President Barack Obama, seeking to shore up support among women, intensified his pressure on Mitt Romney to break any ties with a Republican Senate candidate, Richard Mourdock of Indiana, who said that if a woman became pregnant from rape it was “something God intended.” Romney ignored the emotional social issue, holding to an optimistic campaign tone as he fought for victory in crucial Ohio.
One year ago: A federal judge in San Francisco approved a nearly $15 billion settlement, giving nearly a half-million Volkswagen owners and leaseholders the choice between selling their diesel engine cars back or having them repaired so they didn’t cheat on emissions tests and spew excess pollution. Four people were killed in a river rapids ride accident at a popular theme park in Queensland, Australia. The Cleveland Indians beat the Chicago Cubs 6-0 in the World Series opener.