He reigned for 20 years as one of San Francisco's most colorful characters.
All in Politics
First Assassination Attempt
This was the day a deranged house painter named Richard Lawrence tried to kill President Andrew Jackson.
Ben Franklin's Turkey Letter
He penned a letter to his daughter, Sarah Bache, in which he expressed his opinion about the selection of the bald eagle as the national bird.
The Merrie Monarch
He brought back surfing, hula dancing and other Hawaiian traditions that had been banned.
The Fraunces Tavern
For hundreds of years this corner of Manhattan has hosted the movers and shakers of American history through triumph and tragedy.
Death at the Washington Monument
An anti-Nukes activist seized the landmark in hopes of drawing attention to his cause.
Death of Ivan Ivanovich
The Tsar cradled his son’s bleeding head and cried out, “May I be damned! I’ve killed my son! I’ve killed my son!”
Yagan's Head
The warrior's head was severed and began a 177-year odyssey.
Martin and Mitchell
Two cryptographers working for the National Security Agency left the United States and never returned.
"Not bloody likely!"
It was on this day that Princess Anne and her first husband, Captain Mark Phillips, were attacked as part of a kidnapping scheme.
Bad Day at Boroughbridge
This was the day that Humphrey de Bohun, the 4th Earl of Hereford met his particularly gruesome fate.
Mary Attacks Venus
The attack was one of many dramatic protests between 1913-1914 as women fought for the right to vote.
"I'm glad it was me instead of you."
Today was the day that Mayor Anton Cermak died from a bullet that was aimed at Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
U.S.S Princeton
An exploding cannon killed 8 people, including members of President John Tyler's cabinet.
The Emperor's Collar
János Libényi was executed on this day, a little over a week after he tried to kill Austrian Emperor Franz Josef.
The White Rose
"...what does my death matter, if through us thousands of people are awakened and stirred to action?"
The Peace Sign
The distinctive symbol was a combination of the letters N (for nuclear) and D (for disarmament) from the semaphore alphabet.
Tecún Umán
On this day the last King of the K'iche' Maya people was killed during a battle in what is now Guatemala.
The Lost Cosmonaut
Just before dawn on this day, a Soviet cosmonaut was wandering drunk and stepped in front of a train.
4 and 20 Blackbirds
It was a lavish party on this day that may have inspired a popular nursery rhyme.