On This Day…

1581 – Commissioned by Catherine De Medici, the 1st ballet “Ballet Comique de la Reine” is staged in Paris.

1878 – Edison Electric Light Company incorporated.

1924 – US President Calvin Coolidge declares Statue of Liberty a national monument.

1940 – “The Great Dictator”, a satiric social commentary film by and starring Charlie Chaplin released.

1952 – “Charlotte’s Web” by  B. White and illustrated by Garth Williams is published by Harper & Brothers.

1959 – Final conference on the Antarctic Treaty convened in Washington, D.C., and, after six weeks of negotiations, the treaty was signed by 12 countries, preserving the continent for free scientific study.

1993 – Nelson Mandela and South African President F. W. de Klerk awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

2018 – American investor and philanthropist Paul Allen, who co-founded Microsoft, died at age 65.

Via Britannica / On This Day