Today in History - onthisday.com

 

                                                                                     AUG 25

1609 Galileo Galilei demonstrates his first telescope to Venetian lawmakers, including the Doge (ruler) of Venice, Leonardo Donato 

1619 Slavery begins in mainland British colonies of North America when the first known African captives (approximately 20) land at Point Comfort, Virginia, before being sold or traded into servitude 

1718 Hundreds of French colonists arrive in Louisiana and found New Orleans 1768 Captain James Cook departs from Plymouth, England, bound for the Pacific Ocean on his first voyage aboard the Endeavour 

1804 Alicia Thornton becomes the first female jockey in England, riding at Knavesmire in Yorkshire

1875 Captain Matthew Webb makes the first recorded unassisted swim across the English Channel in 21 hours and 45 minutes

1894 Japanese scientist Shibasaburo Kitasato discovers the infectious agent of the bubonic plague and publishes his findings in The Lancet

1944 German commander Dietrich von Choltitz surrenders Paris to the Free French forces of Philippe Leclerc, disobeying Adolf Hitler's orders to destroy the city. President of the Provisional Government of the French Republic Charles de Gaulle gives a famous speech at the Hôtel de Ville.

1955 16th Venice Film Festival: "Ordet" directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer wins Golden Lion

1958 Momofuku Ando markets the first package of precooked instant noodles, Chikin Ramen 

1960 AFL begins placing players' names on the backs of their jerseys

1990 UN Security Council authorizes military action against Iraq for invading Kuwait 

1991 Linux is born when Linus Torvalds sends an email announcing his project to create a new computer operating system

1998 "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" debut album by Lauryn Hill is released (5 Grammy Awards including Album of the Year, Billboard Album of the Year 1998)