16 th June

1329 The Black Prince—Edward, Prince of Wales—was born.

1838 John Quincy Adams began a three-week speech.

1858 Abraham Lincoln warned of a house divided.

1902 The Wizard of Oz premiered.

1980 The U. S. Supreme Court ruled that scientists who developed new life forms in laboratories could patent their creations. (See April 12th entry.)

History records that on this very day in 1838, former U. S. President John Quincy Adams—then serving in the House of Representatives—rose and began a speech opposing the Texas annexation. The history books tell us that his speech lasted three weeks.

On this date in 1858, the Republican Party assembled in Springfield, Illinois. It had just nominated Abraham Lincoln as a candidate for the U. S. Senate. He lost that particular election, but his words on that day still echo through the corridors of time. Lincoln said

To his audience: “ ‘A house divided against itself cannot stand.’ I believe this government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free.”

Theatergoers set their sights somewhere over the rainbow on this day in 1902. That’s when The Wizard of Oz had its stage premiere.

Today is the Black Prince’s birthday. In 1329, Edward, Prince of Wales, was born. He gained his dark nickname partially because of the color of his armor. But Edward also earned his dubious title for his ruthless brutality toward his enemies and his relentless cruelty on the battlefield. Even on his deathbed, Edward refused to forgive his enemies.