This Day in History
1847: Mexico City captured by U.S. forces
During the Mexican War, the U.S. Army under General Zachary Taylor had captured the important city of Monterrey and defeated a major Mexican force at the Battle of Buena Vista in February 1847; however, U.S. President James K. Polk was frustrated at Taylor's reticence to mount a major invasion of Mexico. He ordered General Winfield Scott to take an army by sea to Veracruz, capture that key seaport, and march inland to Mexico City. Scott took Veracruz in March after a siege of three weeks, and, despite some resistance, his advance on Mexico City was marked by an unbroken series of victories that culminated this day when he entered the capital, ending the military phase of the conflict.
More events on this day
1994: Acting commissioner of baseball Bud Selig announced that the remainder of the 1994 major league baseball season, including the World Series, would be canceled. Players and owners had failed to reach a settlement of the players' strike begun in August.
1975: Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American-born saint, was canonized by the Roman Catholic church.
1927: Isadora Duncan, a pioneer of modern expressive dance, died in France in an automobile accident.
1901: President William McKinley died eight days after being shot in Buffalo, New York.
1829 : Russia and the Ottoman Empire signed the Treaty of Edirne, concluding the Russo-Turkish War of 1828–29.
1814: Francis Scott Key was inspired to write "The Star-Spangled Banner" after Fort McHenry successfully withstood a British attack.
1752: Great Britain adopted the Gregorian calendar; the date was moved ahead 11 days (the day after September 2 became September 14). |
