Today is Wednesday, June 24, the 175th day of 2009. There are 190 days left in the year.
1314 _ Battle of Bannockburn; Scotland regains independence from England
1793 _ First republican constitution in France adopted
1894 _ Decision to begin modern Olympics every four years
1898 _ American troops, drive Spanish forces from La Guasimas, Cuba
1915 _ 800 die as excursion steamer Eastland capsizes in Chicago
1932 _ Coup ends absolute monarchy in Thailand
1948 _ Soviet Union begins Berlin Blockade, so Berlin Airlift begins
1963 _ Zanzibar granted internal self-government by Britain
1963 _ First demonstration of home video recorder in London
1986 _ Guy Hunt elected first Republican governor of Alabama in 112 years