SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 2012

Today is Saturday, August 25, the 238th day of 2012. There are 128 days left in the year.

1609 ― Galileo demonstrates his first telescope to Venetian lawmakers

1718 ― Hundreds of French colonists arrive in Louisiana; New Orleans, founded

1804 ― Alice Meynell becomes first woman jockey (England)

1835 ― NY Sun publishes Moon hoax story about John Herschel

1875 ― Matthew Webb becomes first to swim English Channel (21h 45m)

1921 ― U.S. signs peace treaty with Germany

1940 ― First parachute wedding

1944 ― Paris liberated from Nazi occupation

1990 ― U.N. security council authorizes military action against Iraq

1991 ― Carl Lewis runs 100m in 9.86 seconds