The Edward VIII abdication crisis occurred in the British Empire in
1936, when the desire of King-Emperor Edward VIII to marry Wallis
Simpson, a twice-divorced American socialite, caused a constitutional
crisis. The marriage was opposed by the King's governments in the
United Kingdom and the Dominions. Religious, legal, political, and
moral objections were raised. Mrs Simpson was perceived to be an
unsuitable consort because of her two failed marriages, and it was
widely assumed by the Establishment that she was driven by love of
money or position rather than love for the King. Despite the
opposition, Edward declared that he loved Mrs Simpson and intended to
marry her whether the governments approved or not. The widespread
unwillingness to accept Mrs Simpson as the King's consort, and the
King's refusal to give her up, led to Edward's abdication on
11 December 1936. He was succeeded by his brother Albert as George VI.
Edward was given the title His Royal Highness the Duke of Windsor
following his abdication, and he married Mrs Simpson the following
year. They remained married until his death 35 years later.
Read the rest of this article:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_VIII_abdication_crisis>
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1626:
Director-General of New Netherland Peter Minuit bought Manhattan from
Native Americans in exchange for trade goods valued at 60 guilders.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Minuit>
1738:
At a Moravian Church meeting in Aldersgate Street, London, John Wesley
experienced a spiritual rebirth, leading him to launch the Methodist
movement.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wesley>
1822:
Ecuadorian War of Independence: Troops led by Antonio José de Sucre
secured the independence of Quito from Spain at the Battle of
Pichincha.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Pichincha>
1883:
New York City's Brooklyn Bridge, at the time the longest suspension
bridge in the world, was opened.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooklyn_Bridge>
1956:
The first ever competition of the Eurovision Song Contest was held in
Lugano, Switzerland.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurovision_Song_Contest>
1988:
Section 28 of the United Kingdom Local Government Act of 1988, an
amendment stating that a local authority cannot intentionally promote
homosexuality, was enacted, generating so much controversy that it was
eventually repealed fifteen years later.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_28>
_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:
heuristic (adj):
1. Relating to general strategies or methods for solving problems.
2. Of a method that is not certain to arrive at an optimal solution
<http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/heuristic>
___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:
Every failure is a step to success. Every detection of what is false
directs us towards what is true: every trial exhausts some tempting
form of error.
--William Whewell
<http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/William_Whewell>