August 11

Today in History
• 3114 BC - The Mesoamerican Long Count calendar begins
• 1093 - Foundation stone for the Norman Durham cathedral laid by Bishop William of St. Calais
• 1597 - Germany throws out English sales people
• 1772 - Explosive eruption blows 4,000' off Papandayan Java, kills 3,000
• 1786 - Captain Francis Light establishes the British colony of Penang in Malaysia
• 1860 - US's 1st successful silver mill (Virginia City, Nevada)
• 1866 - World's 1st roller rink opens (Newport, Rhode Island)
• 1874 - Harry S Parmelee patents sprinkler head


Holidays - Traditional and Obscure
• Chad Independence Day
• Hip Hop Day
• Ingersoll Day
• Mountain Day
• National Fufu Day
• National Presidential Joke Day
• National Son and Daughter Day
• Shop Online for Groceries Day

Birthdays
• 1081 - Henry V, King of Germany (1099-1125)
• 1467 - Mary of York, English princess
• 1667 - Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici, last of the Medicis
• 1720 - Martin Gerbert, German composer, music historian and Benedictine abbot
• 1772 - Rowland Hill, 1st Viscount/general
• 1778 - Friedrich Ludwig Jahn, educator and founder of the turnverein (gymnastics) movement
• 1828 - Edward Saloman, American politician, Governor of Wisconsin (1862-64)
• 1837 - Marie François Sadi Carnot, President of France (1887-94)