To compete with his rivals in Spain
Past the ‘Lantic James One spread his reign
By his say, ‘cross the Pond
A new colony dawned
But ‘twould cause his successors some pain

Event: The Virginia Company of London, which would later establish the Jamestown Settlement, is established by royal charter
Year: 1606
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Company

From St. Joe to San Fran in 10 days
Doesn’t sound like a rate to amaze
It’s not email, of course
But a letter by horse
‘Cross the West, then, those ponies did blaze

Event: The first Westbound Pony Express trip leaves St. Joseph, Missouri
Also: The first Eastbound Pony Express trip leaves San Francisco
Year: 1860
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pony_Express

“Henri, please! Have you gone quite insane?
With this preposterous . . . water-plane?
To take off in that duck
You will need all the luck
This designing has rotted your brain!”

Event: Henri Fabre makes the first successful seaplane flight
Year: 1910
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fabre_Hydravion

With the continent trapped in his jaws
Bonaparte sought to redo the laws
And long after he died
They would stretch far and wide
Influential his civil code was

Event: The Napoleonic Code goes into effect
Year: 1804
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleonic_code

Mrs. Miller lay dying in bed
Dr. Hess found a digest, which said
That by taking some mold
She could live to be old
Since that day, of germs we have less dread

Event: Orvan Hess and John Bumstead become the first doctors to successfully treat a patient using penicillin
Year: 1942
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penicillin

After the near seismic shift that resulted in a TDiH poem being produced on Wednesday, we decided to stick with it, because hey, updating on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday seems to make a little more sense than Monday, Tuesday, and Friday. Apologies to Tuesday fans, but for now we’re sticking with hump day.

The phone name that we all know quite well
Is that of Alexander Graham Bell
Did he make his own way?
Or steal from Mr. Gray?
As is oft the case, it’s hard to tell

Event: Alexander Graham Bell receives a patent for the telephone
Year: 1876
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elisha_Gray_and_Alexander_Bell_telephone_controversy

There is a certain day that only comes along once every four years . . . except not when the year is a multiple of 100 . . . except yes when it is a multiple of 400. Anyway, we here at the Wordsman feel it would be wrong to deprive readers of the chance to learn about this day and its fabulous history, so, rather than wait for it to appear on a Tuesday, we are breaking tradition and producing the first ever Wednesday This Day in History!

Well no wonder it never can end
On a cursed day this strip was first penned
Though to read it is pain
It runs ‘gain and again
And to Judgment Day it may extend

Event: The Family Circus (originally The Family Circle) debuts
Year: 1960
Learn more (but don’t say I didn’t warn you): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Family_Circus

Once a peasant with naught to his name
This poor outlaw a monarch became
He was Liu Bang, but now
He’s the Emperor Gao
China never would be quite the same

Event: Liu Bang (also known as Gao or Gaozu) is proclaimed first Emperor of the Han Dynasty
Year: 202 BC
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Gaozu_of_Han

“Comrade Engels, as sure as dog barks
This great work derives from your brain’s sparks!”
“Comrades, please, it’s no crime
My name just doesn’t rhyme!
So let’s give all the credit to Marx”

Event: The Communist Manifesto is published
Year: 1848
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communist_manifesto

Chuck and Louis pledged fraternité
‘Fore the soldiers of their grandes armeés
Lothair, between the deux
Could not believe his yeux
Uninvited was he to partay

Event: Charles the Bald and Louis the German swear the Oaths of Strasbourg, pledging to aid each other and oppose their older brother, Lothair. The version of the Oaths in Old French is believed to be the oldest surviving text written in a Romance language.
Year: 842
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oaths_of_Strasbourg