Bristol is a city in South West England. With an estimated population of 442,500 in 2015, it is the second most populous city in Southern England and the eighth in the UK. Iron Age hill forts and Roman villas were built near the confluence of the Rivers Frome and Avon, and around the beginning of the 11th century the settlement was known as Brycgstow (Old English for "the place at the bridge"). Bristol received a royal charter in 1155, and became a county in 1373. A major commercial port from the 12th century, it was the starting place for early voyages of exploration to the New World, including the 1497 expedition in which John Cabot became the first European since the Vikings to land on mainland North America. One of the top four English cities in tax receipts from the 13th to the 18th century, Bristol's prominence declined during the Industrial Revolution. Its modern economy is built on the creative media, electronics and aerospace industries. The city-centre docks closed in the 20th century, and have been redeveloped as centres of heritage and culture. The city is among the most popular tourist destinations in the UK.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bristol
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1277:
Étienne Tempier, Bishop of Paris, promulgated a Condemnation of 219 philosophical and theological propositions that were being discussed at the University of Paris. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89tienne_Tempier
1850:
In support of the Compromise of 1850, United States Senator Daniel Webster gave his "Seventh of March" speech, which was so unpopular among his constituency he was forced to resign. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Webster
1936:
Nazi German forces re-occupied the demilitarized Rhineland, violating both the Treaty of Versailles and the Locarno Treaties that were signed after World War I. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remilitarization_of_the_Rhineland
1985:
The charity single "We Are the World" by the supergroup USA for Africa was released, and would go on to sell over 20 million copies. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Are_the_World
2009:
Two off-duty soldiers of the British Army's 38 Engineer Regiment were shot dead by the Real IRA in Antrim town, Northern Ireland. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Massereene_Barracks_shooting
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
denude: To divest of all covering; to make bare or naked; to strip. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/denude
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
Life can be great, but not when you can't see it. So, open your eyes to life: to see it in the vivid colors that God gave us as a precious gift to His children, to enjoy life to the fullest, and to make it count. Say yes to your life. And when it comes to drugs and alcohol just say NO. --Nancy Reagan https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Nancy_Reagan