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cannot intentionally promote homosexuality, was enacted, generating so much controversy that it was eventually repealed fifteen years later.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