August 22

Today is New Mexico Annexation Day. 1834: Aeronautical pioneer Samuel Langley was born. 1868: Willis Whitney, who founded the General Electric research laboratory, was born. 1902: In Hartford, CT, President Theodore Roosevelt became the first president to ride in an automobile. 1906: The Victor Talking Machine Company began to manufacture the Victrola record player. 1910: Japan formally annexed Korea. 1932: The BBC began its first TV broadcast in England. 1940: Sir Oliver Lodge, who perfected the radio detection coherer, died. 1962: The world's first nuclear-powered ship, the Savannah, completed its maiden voyage from Yorktown, VA, to Savannah, GA. 1890: James McDonnell, founder of the McDonnell Aircraft Company, died. 1992: Vicki Weaver was killed by an FBI sharpshooter as she stood with her baby in her arms at Ruby Ridge, OR, compliments of Janet Reno. 1989: The first complete ring around Neptune was discovered.