George's Wedding Day
January 6, 1759 & 1945 - Wedding Day For Two Presidents Named George
The wedding anniversaries of George Washington and George Herbert Walker Bush coincide on this day (in 1759 and 1945 respectively).
George Washington married the widow Martha Custis and settled in Mount Veron Virginia with her and her two children from her previous marriage.
George H.W. Bush married Barbara Pierce and the couple raised five children, including the sitting president George W. Bush.
The First Duel of the Three Musketeers
January 5, 1825 - Alexandre Dumas' First Duel
Alexandre Dumas, author of such quintessential classic novels as TheThree Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo, fought his own real-life duel on this day in 1825 against a soldier over a botched game of billiards. Both The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo are ageless classics in the world of literature and have inspired countless films.
A United Europe
January 4,1999 - Launch of the €uro
Since the debut of the uniform European currency on this day in 1999, the Euro -or- ΕΥΡΩ has proven to be a formidable opponent to the almighty American dollar, and closed at 1.17 U.S. dollars on its first day of trading. In late 2000 through the first half of 2001 the Euro slipped to 83 cents, but since 09/11/2001 has steadily risen against the dollar and is currently trading around an all-time high of $1.48. The Euro began life on this day in 1999 as an "accounting" currency traded by the central banks, and the actual coins and paper bills did not begin replacing the old currencies in daily commerce until January 2002.
The Euro currency, which bears various European symbols and architecture, replaced fifteen of the older monetary systems of individual countries like the lira, mark, franc, and drachma. Several other sovereign countries (Monaco, San Marino, Andorra) that previously used currency of one or more of the now Euro countries have adopted the Euro as their official currency. Over the next six years nine more countries are scheduled to yield their individual currencies and switch to the Euro. The Euro is widely perceived to be a major global reserve currency, sharing that status with the U.S. dollar, albeit to a lesser degree. The U.S. dollar continues to enjoy its status as the primary reserve currency of most commercial and central banks worldwide.
The debut of the Euro marked the first time since the era of Charlemagne and the Holy Roman Empire that Europe is unified under a single currency.
Dance Like An Egyptian
January 3, 1924 - Discovery of King Tut
Of all the treasure of the Nile, perhaps the most valuable of all was discovered on this day in 1924. Archaeologist Howard Carter and his expedition team found the mummified remains of King Nebkheperure Tutankhamen encased in a solid gold sarcophagus or coffin. Even more miraculously, Tut's remains were still fully intact after more than three thousand years! King Tut's tomb, originally discovered two years earlier in 1922, was every archaeologist's dream, divided into four rooms filled with priceless artifacts and treasures. It was two years before Carter and his crew stumbled across the burial room which contained Tutankhamen's sarcophagus and two other coffins.
Diva Storms Off Stage
January 2,1958 - Maria Callas Storms Off Stage
The idea that life imitates art, and vice-versa, knows no better example than Maria Callas the Greek-American soprano diva whose personallife was as melodramatic as her on-stage persona. Callas began singing as a child and made her stage debut in Verona Italy during a 1947 performance of La Giacondo. Her first American role was with the New York Metropolitan Opera in Norma where she made an early and dramatic exit after the first act on this day in 1958. She had stayed out late celebrating the night before and the champagne took its toll on her vocal chords. Callas stormed off the stage when the audience booed her strained and squeaky notes.
