1974: 55 MPH Limit Is Signed
On January 2, 1974, President Nixon signed a law that pushed states toward a 55 mph speed limit during the national energy crisis.
Category: Life – This Day
1955: Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita Is Published in Paris
Olympia Press published Vladimir Nabokov’s novel Lolita in Paris after U.S. publishers had rejected it.
1620: The Mayflower Departs England
The Mayflower sailed from Plymouth, England, carrying passengers who hoped to establish a settlement across the Atlantic.
1849: Harriet Tubman Escapes from Slavery
Harriet Tubman escaped from Maryland with two brothers; after they turned back, she made another journey north and reached freedom.
2010: Philippe Croizon Swims the English Channel
Philippe Croizon, a quadruple amputee, completed a swim across the English Channel using prosthetic flippers.
2022: Queen Elizabeth II’s State Funeral Is Held
Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral brought members of the royal family, world leaders and large public crowds to London and Windsor.