Today in History for July 15, 2014

Marquis de Lafayette

July 15, 1789 - Only one day after the fall of the Bastille marked the beginning of a new revolutionary regime in France, the French aristocrat and hero of the American War for Independence, Marie-Joseph Paul Roch Yves Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, became the colonel-general of the National Guard of Paris by acclamation. He would visit Claiborne, Ala. in April 1825.

July 15, 1822 – William R. King was born in South Carolina. He served in the Mexican-American War and died in Mexico on May 3, 1848. His remains were sent home, and he was buried in the Bellville Baptist Church Cemetery.

July 15, 1862 - The CSS Arkansas, the most effective ironclad on the Mississippi River, battled with Union ships at the mouth of the Yazoo River commanded by Admiral David Farragut, severely damaging three ships and sustaining heavy damage herself.

July 15, 1905 – F. Talbert and Russell Broughton of Monroeville and J.M. Dees of Peterman pulled the first open boils of cotton in Monroe County.

July 15, 1918 – Second Battle of the Marne begins with the final German offensive of World War I near the Marne River in the Champagne region of France. Dubbed the Second Battle of the Marne, the conflict ended several days later in a major victory for the Allies.

July 15, 1918 – Army Pvt. Arthur Acree of Andalusia, Army Pvt. Sidney Blair of Andalusia, Army Pvt. DeWitt Fore of Monroeville, Army Pvt. John R. Lavender of Grove Hill, Army Pvt. Geo. Roberson of Andalusia, Army Pvt. Nusom Roberson of Andalusia, Army Pvt. Rufus P. Hendricks of Greenville and Army Pvt. Joe O. Johnson of Atmore were killed in action during World War I. Army PFC Ary A. Duke of Andalusia died from wounds on this day during WWI. Army Pvt. Geo Jones of Cohassett “died of other causes” on this day during in WWI.

July 15, 1935 – Evergreen farmer M.C. Johnston brought first open cotton boll to The Courant office.

July 15, 2003 - Former Dallas Cowboys General Manager Tex Schramm died at the age of 83. In 1963, he drafted Lee Roy Jordan of Excel to play linebacker behind defensive tackle Bob Lilly, who anchored Dallas’ feared “Doomsday Defense” from 1961 to 1974.

July 15, 2006 – Twitter was launched on this day.