William H. Seward (May 16, 1801 – October 10, 1872) was United States Secretary of State from 1861 to 1869. A determined opponent of the spread of slavery in the years leading up to the Civil War, he was a dominant figure in the Republican Party in its formative years. While Governor of New York, he signed laws that advanced the rights of black residents. He was elected as a U.S. Senator in 1849, serving two six- year terms. Though he was the favorite for the Republican presidential nomination in 1860, delegates sought a moderate on the slavery question, choosing Abraham Lincoln. As Secretary of State, his firm stance against foreign intervention helped deter the United Kingdom and France from entering the conflict. He was a target of the 1865 assassination plot that killed Lincoln, and was seriously wounded by conspirator Lewis Powell. Seward remained at his post through the presidency of Andrew Johnson, during which he negotiated the Alaska Purchase in 1867.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_H._Seward

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1929:

The 1st Academy Awards ceremony was held at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Academy_Awards

1960:

American physicist Theodore Maiman operated the first working laser at the Hughes Research Laboratories in Malibu, California. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Maiman

1961:

The Military Revolution Committee, led by Park Chung-hee, carried out a bloodless coup against the government of Yun Bo-seon, ending the Second Republic of South Korea. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_16_coup

1975:

Japanese climber Junko Tabei became the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junko_Tabei

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

terse: 1. (obsolete) Burnished, polished; fine, smooth; neat, spruce. 2. (by extension) Of speech or style: brief, concise, to the point. 3. (by extension) Of manner or speech: abruptly or brusquely short; curt. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/terse

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

The really frightening thing about middle age is the knowledge that you'll grow out of it.   --Doris Day https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Doris_Day