This Week in History

FEBRUARY 29

1692- The first people are accused of witchcraft in Salem, Mass.—Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne and Tibuta, a West Indian slave.

MARCH 1

Pat McCarthy was born.

Robin Redmond-Tozza was born.

1961 – President John F. Kennedy signed an executive order establishing the Peace Corps.

MARCH 2

1962 – Philadelphia Warriors center Wilt Chamberlain scored an NBA-record 100 points in a basketball game.

2001 – The Taliban began the destruction of ancient Buddha statues in Afghanistan.

MARCH 3

Joseph Manno was born.

Quinn McCallion was born.

Lee Ann Ferriola was born.

1845 – Florida became the 27th state in the United States.

1931 – The “Star-Spangled Banner” was adopted as the national anthem.

MARCH 4

Joan Roughneen Donohue was born.

Ed Wilkinson was born.

1789 – The Constitution of the United States went into effect.

1861 – Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated as president.

MARCH 5

1770 – The Boston Massacre, a pre-Revolutionary incident that grew out of anger towards British troops, occurred. Five anti-British rioters were killed.

1933 – In the last free elections in Germany until after World War II, the Nazi Party received 44% of the vote.

MARCH 6

Michelle Gunn was born.

Mike McMahon was born.

Lily McVeigh was born.

1981 – Walter Cronkite, “the most trusted man in America,” retired from the CBS Evening News and was replaced by Dan Rather.

1997 – Queen Elizabeth II launched the first royal website.