FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Today is Friday, March 30, the 90th day of 2012. There are 276 days left in the year.

1533 ― Henry VIII divorces his 1st wife, Catherine of Aragon

1778 ― Playwright Voltaire crowned with laurel wreath

1814 ― Britain & 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. Lipman of Philadelphia)

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

1870 15th Amendment passes, guarantees right to vote regardless of race

1953 Einstein announces revised unified field theory

1972 North Vietnamese troops enter South Vietnam