200 years ago, June 18, 1778: British forces evacuated Philadelphia, marching toward New York City. Gen. George Washington’s American forces chased British Gen. Henry Clinton’s troops across New Jersey, leading to the Battle of Monmouth, N.J. on June 28, the largest and last major northern battle of the war, with over 10,000 troops on each side fighting from dawn to dusk.
The afternoon temperature soared to over 100. Sunstroke killed 59 British and 40 Americans that day, but American forces took the heat better, since Mary Ludwig Hayes, [aka (Molly Pitcher)] led a band of women bringing pitchers of water to the American soldiers during that long day’s battle.
100 years ago, on June 16, 1903, two corporate giants of the 20th Century were born on the same day: Ford Motors and Pepsi Cola.
Four prominent public figures were born within a week; two died young, two old:
Born June 19, 1903, Henry Louis Gehrig, famed first baseman for the New York Yankees. After playing a record 2,130 games in a row, he died of a muscle wasting disease, now known by his name.
Born June 21, 1903, Al Hirschfeld, leading caricature artist. He worked well into his 100th year.
Born June 24, 1903, Phil Harris, singer/actor (Anything Goes, Robin Hood); he lived to age 92.
Born June 25, 1903, George Orwell (Eric Blair), British author of Animal Farm and 1984, died at 47.
75 years ago, June 12-15, 1928, the Republican National Convention nominated Herbert Hoover of California for President . . . . On June 26-29, the Democrats nominated New York Gov. Alfred E. Smith . . . . And on June 17, Amelia Earhart became the first female to fly across the Atlantic.
50 years ago, June 1953, was a busy month: On June 2, 1953, the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Abbey was a major TV extravaganza in America . . . . June 7: The first color TV program was broadcast (in Boston) . . . . June 14: President Eisenhower condemned Sen. Joseph McCarthy on the same day Elvis Presley graduated from L.C. Humes High School in Memphis . . . . June 18: Near Tokyo, a U.S. Air Force plane crashed, killing 128, the world’s worst air disaster to that date . . . . June 19: Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were executed at Sing Sing, for giving away nuclear secrets to the Soviet Union . . . . June 29: The Federal Highway Act authorized the construction of 42,500 miles of an "Interstate Highway"-a coast to coast freeway, as part of the National Defense Act . . . . June 30: The first Corvette came off Chevy’s assembly line in Flint, Mich. Price: $3,250.
25 years ago, on June 6, 1978, Californians approved Proposition 13, a California constitutional amendment to reduce state property taxes. The measure was supported by 65% of Californians who voted . . . . June 10: 18-year-old Steve Cauthen rode 3-year-old Affirmed to victory in the 110th Belmont Stakes-the most recent Triple Crown winner. Since then, nine horses have won the first two legs of the Triple Crown, but eight of them went on to lose the Belmont Stakes . . . . And finally, on June 28: The U.S. Supreme Court ruled, in the case of Bakke v. University of California, that the state-run university had to admit Allan P. Bakke to its medical school.
