Committee of Five

The Second Continental Congress appointed a “Committee of Five” in consideration of Lee's Resolution to draft a declaration for independence from the British Crown on June 11, 1776.  The five were John Adams of Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, Robert Livingston of New York, and Roger Sherman of Connecticut. The Committee operated from June 11 to July 5, 1776 – the day the Declaration was published.  On July 2nd the Congress began considering the Declaration. Richard Henry Lee presented the following resolution for a declaration to the Congress on June 7th.  Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved. That it is expedient forthwith to take the…

Read More American History, Benjamin Franklin, Declaration of Independence, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson

Shootdown of Iran Air Flight 655

On July 3, 1988, Iran Air Flight 655 was shot down by the U.S. Missile Cruiser USS Vincennes over the Strait of Hormuz, killing all 290 people on board.  This incident occurred toward the end of the Iran – Iraq War.  The U.S. among other countries had warships in the region in order to protect the transport of oil (Britannica).  There had been numerous incidents, notably an attack by Iraq missiles striking the USS Stark in May 1987.  Iraqis mistook the American Frigate for an Iranian tanker.  Thirty-seven sailors were killed during the attack and the ship was sidelined for more than a year (LaGrone).  The U.S. then revised their rules of engagements to undertake more protective measures.  The USS Vincennes had been involved in several skirmishes with Iranian vessels despite orders to change course and continued to pursue the enemy (Britannica). The Iranian Airliner (Airbus A300) departed at 10:47…

Read More Aviation, Iran, Iran-Iraq War, U.S.

Death of Lincoln

President Lincoln along with his wife and guests try to relax with some light comedy at Ford’s Theater on the evening of April 14, 1865.  The entertainment for the evening is the play, “Our American Cousin”.  Lincoln’s normal bodyguard was not present that night.  In his place, guarding the door leading to the Presidential Box, was Washington Police Officer John Parker.  At some point during the play, Parker abandoned his post to go get a drink. This made it easier for assassin John Wilkes Booth to access the President (“Pearce Museum | Facts from Lincoln’s Assassination and Death”).  Booth would sneak up behind Lincoln and discharged a single shot, Derringer pistol to the back of his head.  The lead ball would become lodged behind Lincoln’s left eye (“The Lincoln Assassination – Google Arts & Culture”). Lincoln was taken across the street to the Petersen House and placed on a small…

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Garfield Assassination

Brief Look at the Assassination of President James A. Garfield: On July 2, 1881, President James Garfield was shot in the back at the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station in Washington D.C. by Charles J. Guiteau, a disgruntled political office seeker with a .442 Webley British Bulldog Revolver. Garfield suffered for weeks as doctors frantically tried saving him. In the end, it was the doctors lack of knowledge of Germ Theory and unsanitary practices that lead to the Presidents demise on September 19th 1881. The prevailing thought was that if the doctors had done nothing, then he more than likely would have survived. The poking and prodding in the wound in an attempt to find the bullet by the doctors with unsanitary fingers and probes lead to infection. Guiteau said it was God's doing and even accused the medical malpractice of the Doctors as the cause of the Presidents death and not by…

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