Harriet Tubman (1822–1913) was an African-American abolitionist and political activist. Born into slavery, Tubman escaped in 1849, then returned 13 times to rescue approximately 70 of her enslaved family and friends. Traveling by night, she used a network of antislavery activists and safe houses known as the Underground Railroad. After the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 was passed, she helped fugitives go farther north into British North America, and helped newly freed slaves find work. Tubman met John Brown in 1858, and helped him plan and recruit for his 1859 raid on Harpers Ferry. When the Civil War began, she worked for the Union Army, first as a cook and nurse, and then as an armed scout and spy. The first woman to lead an armed expedition in the war, she guided the raid at Combahee Ferry, which liberated more than 700 slaves. Later in life she was an activist for women's suffrage. After her death, she was celebrated as an American icon.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harriet_Tubman
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1683:
Antonie van Leeuwenhoek wrote a letter to the Royal Society describing "animalcules" – the first known description of protozoa. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonie_van_Leeuwenhoek
1914:
Andrew Fisher, whose previous term as prime minister of Australia oversaw a period of reform unmatched in the Commonwealth until the 1940s, became prime minister for the third time. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Fisher
1939:
World War II: The Soviet Union invaded Poland from the east, sixteen days after Nazi Germany's attack on the country from the west. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_invasion_of_Poland
1970:
The Jordanian Army commenced operations to oust Palestinian fedayeen from Jordan, in what became known as Black September (smoke rising above Amman pictured). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_September
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
hokum: 1. (countable, uncountable, informal) (An instance of) meaningless nonsense with an outward appearance of being impressive and legitimate. 2. (countable, uncountable, informal) (An instance of) excessively contrived, hackneyed, or sentimental material in a film, television programme, theater production, etc. 3. (countable, informal) A film, television programme, theater production, etc., containing excessively contrived, hackneyed, or sentimental material. 4. (uncountable, music) A genre of blues song or music, often characterized by sexual innuendos or satire. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/hokum
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
Well you're looking for another end Doing time But you still can't turn away Well you're looking for a real friend Any kind That wants to play the games you play On this side of paradise Where you're never going to go through twice Stay tuned at any price To this side of paradise. --Ric Ocasek https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Ric_Ocasek
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