Victoria (1819–1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death, the longest reign in
British history to that point. Victoria was the only child of Prince
Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn (the fourth son of George III), and
Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. Edward died in 1820, and
Victoria eventually inherited the throne aged 18 since Edward's elder
brothers had all died without surviving legitimate issue. Victoria
married her first cousin Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in 1840.
Their children married into royal families across Europe, and Victoria
was dubbed "the grandmother of Europe". After Albert's death in 1861,
Victoria went into deep mourning and avoided public appearances. As a
result, British republicanism gained strength. Her popularity later
recovered, and she became a national icon. Her Golden and Diamond
Jubilees were times of national celebration. Victoria was succeeded by
her son Edward VII.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Victoria>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1869:
Jay Gould, James Fisk, and other speculators plotted but failed
to control the United States gold market, causing prices to plummet.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Friday_%281869%29>
1890:
Wilford Woodruff, the president of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints, wrote the first draft of a manifesto that
officially disavowed the future practice of plural marriage.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1890_Manifesto>
1941:
Operation Barbarossa: A Wehrmacht training event known as the
Mogilev Conference began, marking an increase in violence against Jews
and other civilians in the areas under General Max von Schenckendorff's
command.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mogilev_Conference>
1993:
Norodom Sihanouk became King of Cambodia with the restoration
of the monarchy after a 23-year interregnum.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norodom_Sihanouk>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
irrespirable:
Not respirable; not suitable for breathing; unbreathable.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/irrespirable>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
LOGIC The principle governing human intellection. Its nature may
be deduced from examining the following propositions, both of which are
held by human beings to be true and often by the same people: “I
can’t so you musn’t,” and “I can but you musn’t.”
--John Brunner
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/John_Brunner>