MONDAY, MARCH 26, 2012

Today is Monday, March 26, the 86th day of 2012. There are 280 days left in the year.

1780 ― first British Sunday newspaper appears (British Gazette & Sunday Monitor)

1812 ― Earthquake destroys 90 percent of Caracas; about 20,000 die

1824 ― First performance of Beethoven's ``Missa Solemnis"

1871 ― Paris Commune founded

1872 ― Thomas J. Martin patents fire extinguisher

1885 ― Eastman Film Co. manufactures first commercial motion picture film

1937 ― Spinach growers of Crystal City, Texas, erect statue of Popeye

1942 ― First ``Eichmann transport" to Auschwitz and Birkenau Camps

1971 ― Bangladesh (East Pakistan) declares its independence

1979 ― Camp David peace treaty between Israel and Egypt