History is regarded as series of events in the lives of humans in the past. It entails stories of wars, allies, tragedies, comedies, births, deaths and all others so captured in history records.
In history, Herodotus, a greek historian is traditionally regarded as the father of history, while his contemporary Thucydides is regarded as the father of modern history. Their contribution to history can not be overemphasized.
Today In History
1. Execution Of Ken Saro-Wiwa And Eight Others
On this day in 1995, Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight others, popularly referred to as the Ogoni Nine. Ken Saro-Wiwa was one of the founders of Movement For The Survival Of The Ogoni People (MOSOP), he was also the vice chairman Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO).
Ken Saro-Wiwa was at the forefront of agitations for Ogoni people. They demanded better rights through increased autonomy, due and fair compensation from oil proceeds and remediation of environmental damage of Ogoni lands. His activism posed a treat to the military dictatorship and Royal Dutch Shell oil corporation at the time, hence his frequent arrest by the military.
However, On 21 May 1994, Ken Saro-Wiwa had been refused entry into Ogoni land by police men at a roadblock, while he was still held waiting, four Ogoni chiefs, who were sympathetic to the government and the oil corporation, were beaten and burned by angry Ogoni mob.
The military accused him of inciting the attacks and arrested him alongside 15 others. After being imprisoned for nine months without charge, they were illegally charged and sentenced to death by hanging, an execution which eventually took place on November 10, 1995.
2. Windshield Wiper Patented
On this day in 1903, United States Patent Office awarded Mary Anderson for her Window Cleaning Device.
According to an account, the idea was birthed, while she was on a journey during a snow, which prompted the driver to continually halt the journey to clean the car’s windshield, a development that delayed the journey than usually.
She might not have gained monetarily for her invention, however she eventually got credit for her intervention in 2011, when she was inducted into the Inventors Hall of Fame.
3. World’s First Motorcycle Invented
On this day in 1885, Gottlieb Wilhelm Daimler, a German automobile engineer invented the World’s First Motorcycle. He also co-founded the popular Mercedes-Benz, although the merger and name change occurred after his death in 1926.
