The Baltimore Steam Packet Company was an American steamship line from 1840 to 1962, providing overnight steamboat service on the Chesapeake Bay, primarily between Baltimore, Maryland, and Norfolk, Virginia. Called a "packet" for the mail packets carried on government mail contracts, the term in the 19th century came to mean a steamer line operating on a regular, fixed daily schedule between two or more cities. By the time the venerable packet line ceased operation in 1962 after 122 years of existence, it was the last surviving overnight steamship passenger service in the United States. In addition to regularly calling on Baltimore and Norfolk, the Baltimore Steam Packet Company also provided freight, passenger and vehicle transport to Washington, D.C., Old Point Comfort, and Richmond, Virginia, at various times during its history.

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_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1776:

British forces led by William Howe defeated the American Continental Army under George Washington at the Battle of Long Island in Brooklyn, New York, the largest battle of the American Revolutionary War. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Long_Island

1896:

The Anglo-Zanzibar War set the record for the shortest war in recorded history when Zanzibar surrendered less than an hour after the conflict broke out, with British forces destroying the Sultan's Palace and Harem . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Zanzibar_War

1964:

In the wake of a failed attempt to augment his personal power, South Vietnamese junta leader Nguyen Khanh entered into a triumvirate power-sharing arrangement with rival generals Tran Thien Khiem and Duong Van Minh, who had been involved in plots to unseat Khanh. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tran_Thien_Khiem

1991:

Dissolution of the Soviet Union: Moldova declared its independence during the aftermath of the failure of the Soviet coup d'état attempt. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moldova

2003:

The planet Mars made its closest approach to Earth in nearly 60,000 years: 55,758,006 kilometres (34,646,419 mi). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars

2006:

Comair Flight 5191 crashed while inadvertently attempting to take off from a shorter runaway at Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49 of the 50 people on board, and causing the Federal Aviation Administration to modify rules regarding air traffic controllers. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comair_Flight_5191

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

best (v): To beat in a contest; to surpass in skill or achievement http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/best

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

For me, a few hours ago, this campaign came to an end. For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die. --Ted Kennedy http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Ted_Kennedy