141 BC Peking, Politics: Emperor Wu of the Han dynasty assumed the throne and stayed there for fifty-four years. Tranquility was his practice and program.
1776 Edinburgh, Society: Adam Smith published ‘The Wealth of Nations.’ In time it became the foundation of economics as a social science and has remained in print since that time: More often cited than read even by members of the Adam Smith Society. Did the ‘invisible hand’ therein lead to the invisible man? Only H. G. Wells knows for sure.
1831 Oran, History: The Légion étrangère was created by merging Swiss and German regiments in the French Bourbon army. The ordinance of establishment specified that foreigners must serve outside France, and that started in Algeria. Even to this day recruits swear allegiance to the Légion and not to France. Its place in legend is greater than its place in history. In 1939 some veterans of the International Brigades saw in the Légion a further chance to fight fascism. Later several regiments of the Légion readily joined the Free France cause in 1940 and proved instrumental at Bir Hakeim in North Africa. There is a very lengthy entry on Wikipedia, and for those interested an official web site for volunteers.
1841 DC. The Supreme Court, convinced by the arguments of counsellor John Quincy Adams, ordered the release of the survivors of the Amistad mutiny. President Martin van Buren had them imprisoned to woo the pro-slavery votes that he would need for re-election. They sued for relief, and former President John Quincy Adams took the case pro bono for he had always been an abolitionist. Although seven of the nine justices were from Southern States, such were the facts and argument that they found 7-1 for release with one abstention. A biography Quincy Adams is discussed elsewhere on this blog. He was no orator but he was devil for detail.
1959 New York City, Popular Culture: The eleven inch tall Barbie Doll first went to display at the American Toy Fair. She was the first mass-produced doll with adult features in the United States. Creator Ruth Handler named it after her daughter Barbara. Barbie’s costumes have given her a number of careers from doctor, pilot, stewardess, astronaut, athlete, banker, and more. The Mattel Corporation claims that 800 million have been sold. Other web sites give an even larger number. A mint condition 1959 example as pictured below sold for $27,450 in 2016. Check the attic!
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