1781
Richmond, Virginia is burned by British naval forces led by Benedict Arnold.

1884
Princess Ida, written by Gilbert & Sullivan, is first performed at the Savoy Theater in London.

1914
Ford Motor Company sets a precedent by introducing an eight-hour working day and a minimum daily wage of $5.

1925
Nellie Tayloe Ross becomes the first female governor in the United States.

1932
Umberto Eco is born. So is my dad, Christopher Webber–poet, priest, farmer, husband, father– in Cuba, New York.

1933
Construction starts on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, U.S.A.

Happy birthday, Dad! You’re a year older than the Golden Gate Bridge, and you look every bit as strong.