This Day in History—–Mother’s Day Becomes Public Holiday

May 09

1914
Mother’s Day became a public holiday.

1926
Explorers Richard E. Byrd and Floyd Bennett flew over the North Pole.

1936
Fascist Italy annexed Ethiopia.

1962
The Beatles signed their first recording contract and hired George Martin to be their producer.

1978
The body of slain former Italian prime minister Aldo Moro was found in an automobile in Rome.

1984
It took the Chicago White Sox 25 innings, eight hours, and six minutes, over two days, to finally defeat the Milwaukee Brewers, 7-6. It was the longest game (in elapsed time) in major-league history.

1994
The South African parliament chose Nelson Mandela as president.

2004
Chechnya’s Moscow-backed leader, Akhmad Kadyrov, was killed in a bombing. Six others were killed and another 60 wounded.

Birthdays

John Brown
1800–1859, American abolitionist, born in Torrington, Conn.

Belle Boyd
spy in the Civil War (1844)

Sir James Barrie
playwright (1860)

Howard Carter
Egyptologist (1873)

“Pancho” Gonzales
tennis player (1928)

Albert Finney
actor (1936)

John Ashcroft
attorney general (1942)

Billy Joel
musician, singer, songwriter (1949)