On This Day In History - 17th February

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY 17th FEBRUARY

 

On This Day in 364 AD, the Roman Emperor Jovian is found dead in his tent at Tyana, where they had camped the night before on their way back to Constantinople.

 

Jovian had been eating magic mushrooms the night before and bungee-jumped off his bed into a tea cup full of gorillas in purple tutus.

 

On This Day in 1753, Where the heck did our twelve days go? It was like, err, the middle of February when I went to sleep.

 

In 1753, Sweden went to sleep on February 17th and woke to find it was March 1st all ready. And they could have sworn they only got eight hours.

 

It was either aliens, or they finally switched from the Julian Calendar to the Gregorian Calendar. I'm going with aliens.

 

On This Day in 1801, Thomas Jefferson is elected President of the United States of America. He actually tied with his opponent, Aaron Burr.

 

However, to resolve the issue, they played Rock-Paper-Scissors. Jefferson won, and he became President. Aaron Burr, to stop him saying Jefferson cheated, was made Vice President.

 

Best of three? Okay, best of five? They played three hundred and twenty nine games before Jefferson eventually got the result he wanted.

 

On This Day in 1854, The United Kingdom recognised the independence of the Orange Free State. That's where the fruit comes from. It's disgusting. Horrible smell. Horrible taste. It should be banned. Oranges are evil.

 

On This Day in 1974, Robert K. Preston buzzed the White House, where the President lives, in America, Washington DC, not the state, that's the other side, in a stolen helicopter.

 

On This Day in 2003, the London Congestion Charge is introduced in London, England. Hasn't made it less congested, though. The place is a nightmare to drive around.