Thursday, April 21

This Day In History

• 1649   The Maryland Toleration Act, which provided for freedom of worship for all Christians, was passed by the Maryland assembly.
• 1789   John Adams was sworn in as the first vice president of the United States.
• 1816   Charlotte Bronte, author of ''Jane Eyre,'' was born in Thornton, England.
• 1836   Texans led by Sam Houston defeated the Mexicans at San Jacinto, assuring Texas independence.
• 1918   Baron Manfred von Richthofen, the German ace known as the "Red Baron," was killed in action during World War I.
• 1960   Brazil inaugurated its new capital, Brasilia, transferring the seat of national government from Rio de Janeiro.
• 1975   South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu resigned after 10 years in office.
• 1977   The musical ''Annie'' opened on Broadway.
• 1980   Rosie Ruiz was the first woman to cross the finish line at the Boston Marathon, but she was disqualified when officials discovered she had jumped into the race about a mile from the finish.
• 1986   A vault in Chicago's Lexington Hotel that was linked to Al Capone was opened during a live TV special hosted by Geraldo Rivera. Except for a few bottles and a sign, the vault was empty.
• 1992   Robert Alton Harris became the first person executed by the state of California in 25 years as he was put to death in the gas chamber for the 1978 murder of two teenage boys.
• 2002   In a huge upset in French politics, extreme-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen qualified to face incumbent Jacques Chirac in the runoff for French president.
• 2003   State-run media in China reported the government had dismissed Beijing's mayor following the disclosure of a steep increase in SARS cases in the Chinese capital.

Happy Birthday To

• 1816   Charlotte Bronte (author: Jane Eyre, The Professor, Shirley, Villette; died Mar 31, 1855)
• 1926   Queen Elizabeth II (Elisabeth Mary) (Queen of the United Kingdom [1952- ]; eldest daughter of George VI and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon; married Philip Mountbatten [1947]: four children: Charles [Prince of Wales], Anne, Andrew, Edward)
• 1951   Tony Danza (actor: Family Law, Who?s the Boss, Taxi, Angels in the Outfield, Baby Talk)