1858: The First Transatlantic Telegraph Message is sent
The message sent by Britain’s Queen Victoria to American President James Buchanan, read ‘Europe and America are united by telegraphic communication. Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, goodwill to men.’ The cable, which cut down the time of communication between the two continents was successful only for a few months. Technical difficulties led to the cable being closed in October of 1858.
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1861: President Abraham Lincoln issued Proclamation 86, which prohibited the states of the Union from engaging in commercial trade with states that were in rebellion — i.e., the Confederacy.
1977: Music icon Elvis Presley dies in Memphis, Tennessee, at the age of 42. The death of the “King of Rock and Roll” brought legions of mourning fans to Graceland, his mansion in Memphis. Doctors said he died of a heart attack, likely brought on by his addiction to prescription barbiturates.
1983: Towns throughout Ondo State erupted into violence. The ostensible cause was popular reaction against the result of the gubernatorial elections which favored the National Party of Nigeria (NPN).
1996: Leonel Fernández Reyna inaugurated as president of the Dominican Republic
The youngest person ever elected president of the Dominican Republic, Leonel Fernández Reyna was sworn in this day in 1996 and soon instituted measures to end corruption and to improve the country’s economy.
2003: Idi Amin Dada Oumee was a Ugandan military officer and politician who served as the third president of Uganda from 1971 to 1979. He ruled as a military dictator and is considered one of the most brutal despots in modern world history. Amin was forced to flee when Kampala was captured by Tanzania with the support of mutinous Ugandans. Although he originally sought refuge in Libya, he later moved to Saudi Arabia, where he lived comfortably until his death of multiple organ failure in 2003.
2018: Singer Aretha Franklin known as the “Queen of Soul,” died in Detroit at the age of 76 forty-one years Elvis Presley’s death.
BIRTHS ON THIS DAY: August 16
Madonna, 66 years
Madonna Louise Ciccone is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Regarded as the “Queen of Pop”, she has been recognized for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting and visual presentation.
Umaru Yar’adua (16 August 1951 – 5 May 2010)
Umaru Musa Yar’adua was born in Katsina, Katsina State on 16 August1951. He was the 13th Head of Sate of Nigeria (and 4th elected leader) and a two-term governor of Katsina State. Yar’Adua’s ability to serve while dealing with health issues was called into question after he went to Saudi Arabia in late November 2009 for treatment of heart and kidney problems. After he had been absent from Nigeria for several weeks, critics complained of a power vacuum in the country, and there were calls for Yar’Adua to formally transfer power to the vice president, Goodluck Jonathan. He died at 58.
