WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2011

Today is Wednesday, March 30, the 89th day of 2011. There are 276 days left in the year.

239 B.C. ― First recorded perihelion passage of Halley's Comet

1778 ― Playwright Voltaire crowned with laurel wreath

1814 ― Britain and allies march into Paris after defeating Napoleon

1842 ― Ether was used as an anesthetic for first time by Dr. Crawford Long (Jefferson, Ga.)

1856 ― Russia signs Peace of Paris, ending the Crimean War

1858 ― Pencil with attached eraser patented (Hyman L. Lipmann of Philadelphia)

1867 ― U.S. purchases Alaska from Russia for $7,200,000 (2 cents an acre-Seward's Folly)

1953 ― Einstein announces revised unified field theory

1982 ― John Pielmeier's ``Agnes of God" premieres in New York City

1992 ― 64th Academy Awards (Silent of the Lambs sweeps with Best Picture, Anthony Hopkins as Best Actor and Jodie Foster as Best Actress)