THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 2008

Today is Thursday, August 14, the 227th day of 2008. There are 139 days left in the year.

410 _ Alaric sacks Rome

1248 _ Construction of Cologne Cathedral begun

1457 _ Oldest known exactly dated printed book (c 3 years after Gutenberg)

1862 _ Lincoln receives 1st group of blacks to confer with US president

1880 _ Construction of Cologne Cathedral completed

1893 _ France issues 1st driving licenses, included required test

1900 _ Intl forces including US Marines enter Beijing to put down Boxer Rebellion, which was aimed at ridding China of foreigners

1917 _ China declares war on Germany & Austria at start of WW I

1947 _ India granted independence within British Commonwealth

1947 _ Pakistan gains independence from Britain