Browsing: August 27

A Brief History On August 27, 1859, Colonel Edwin Drake of the Seneca Oil Company drilled a successful oil well just outside Titusville, Pennsylvania, the discovery of the first commercially viable oil well.  An oil rush developed in Pennsylvania, and uses for natural petroleum products were invented left and right, with kerosene distilled from crude oil becoming the replacement for increasingly expensive whale oil for lamps.  Throughout history discoveries have been made that changed the course of human events either locally or across the globe.  Some of these discoveries captured the imagination of the public rather than changing lifestyles or…

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A Brief History On August 27, 1927, five steadfast women in Canada petitioned the Supreme Court of Canada to clarify if the word “persons” in the British North America Act included women.  These ladies from Alberta were disappointed when months later the Court ruled no, women were not “persons.” Digging Deeper The 5 Alberta women, known as “The Famous Five” or “The Valiant Five” were specifically seeking clarification of the wording to see if women could legally be appointed to the Senate.  This case was more or less a continuation of the women’s suffrage movement in Europe and in the…

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A Brief History On August 27, 1928, countries that were bitter enemies in World War I signed the Kellogg-Briand Pact to renounce war as a means to resolve disputes and conflicts between nations.  Within a year’s time, a total of 62 countries had signed. Digging Deeper To put 62 countries in perspective for the times, the 1928 Winter Olympics had 25 countries participating and the Summer Olympics 46. This particular treaty was named after Frank Kellogg, U.S. Secretary of State, and Aristide Briand, the French Foreign Minster.  Kellogg received the 1929 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in establishing the pact.  (History and Headlines Note:  The name “Kellogg”…

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A Brief History On August 27, 1939, the first jet aircraft, the Heinkel He 178, made its first flight.  Since this airplane did not make it to regular production, many people may not be familiar with it.  Many pioneering events in aviation history are relatively unknown, at least to the lay public.  Here 10 such machines or deeds that represent firsts in aviation history are listed (Only fixed-wing, powered flights are being considered in this list.)   Digging Deeper 10. 1st Powered Flight, 1890. No, it was not by the Wright brothers!  They did, however, make the first “controlled” powered flight in 1903 for a…

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