Today In History

In 1608: English poet John Milton was born in London.

In 1854: Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s poem, “The Charge of the Light Brigade,” was published in England.

In 1907: Christmas seals went on sale for the first time, at the Wilmington, Del., post office. Proceeds went to fight tuberculosis.

In 1940: British troops opened their first major offensive in North Africa during World War II.

In 1979: Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, the religious broadcaster, died in New York City at age 84.

In 1995: Rep. Kweisi Mfume, D-Md., was chosen to head the NAACP.