National Oyster Day
National Underwear Day
Work Like a Dog Day
Although the origins of “Work like a dog” are not known, it most likely refers to actual working dogs. Sheep dogs and sled dogs are good examples. They are bred to work hard – working even gives them pleasure.
Alternately, in olden days, the two sawyers who worked on a tree sawing planks were the top-dog and the under-dog. A “dog”in those days was a manual worker.
On August 5, 1583 – Sir Humphrey Gilbert claimed what is now St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. for Queen Elizabeth.
On August 5, 1620 – The Mayflower and the Speedwell departed from Southampton, England in their first attempt to reach North America.
Shortly after, the Speedwell started taking on water so the ships landed at Dartmouth, Devon. The leaks were sealed and the ships sailed again. They got as far as Plymouth, Devon when the Speedwell was again leaking. It was decided to sell the Speedwell and transfer the passengers and crew to the Mayflower. Of the combined 121 passengers, 102 were chosen to make the trip. The reduced party finally sailed on Sept 6th.
On August 5, 1735 New York Weekly Journal writer, John Peter Zenger, was acquitted of seditious libel against the royal governor of New York, on the basis that what he had published was true. Read more about this on BenneyDavis.com.
Birthday of Guy de Maupassant (August 5, 1850), French novelist, considered one of the fathers of the modern short story.
In 1861 – American Civil War: In order to help pay for the war effort, the United States government levied the first income tax as part of the Revenue Act of 1861 (3% of all incomes over US $800; rescinded in 1872).
The cornerstone for the Statue of Liberty was laid on Bedloe’s Island (now Liberty Island) in New York Harbor on August 5, 1884..
Aug 5, 1923, Henry Sullivan became the first American to swim the English Channel. He finished in 27 hours and 25 minutes.
August 5 – 1962: Film actress Marilyn Monroe was found dead at her home. She was 35 years old.
1981 – President Ronald Reagan fired 11,359 striking air-traffic controllers who ignored his order for them to return to work.
Reagan had offered the union “Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization” (PATCO) an 11% wage increase. The union demanded a 100% increase which amounted to $700 million. PATCO’s strike, as it turned out, was illegal. Reagan echoed the words of Calvin Coolidge when he told his Transportation Secretary, Drew Lewis, “There is no right to strike against the public safety by anybody, anywhere, at any time.”
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