#Middlebury
On Feb. 26, 1564, poet and playwright Christopher Marlowe is baptized in Canterbury, England, two months before the birth of his fellow playwright William Shakespeare. Historians believe Marlowe served as a spy for Queen Elizabeth while at Cambridge. He was nearly denied his master’s degree in 1587, until the queen’s advisers intervened.- On Feb. 27, 1827, a group of masked and costumed students dance through the streets of New Orleans, marking the beginning of the city’s famous Mardi Gras celebrations. Early French settlers brought the tradition of Mardi Gras to the U.S. Gulf Coast at the end of the 17th century.
- On Feb 24, 1868, the U.S. House of Representatives votes 11 articles of impeachment against President Andrew Johnson, nine of which cite Johnson’s removal of Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton, a violation of the Tenure of Office Act. He was the first president to be impeached in U.S. history.
- On Feb. 25, 1873, Enrico Caruso, the greatest tenor who ever lived, is born. Caruso recorded scores of arias of three and four minutes in length – the longest duration that could fit on a 78 rpm record.
- On Feb. 29, 1940, “Gone with the Wind” is honored with eight Oscars, including one for Hattie McDaniel for her portrayal of “Mammy,” a housemaid and former slave. She was the first African American actor ever to win an Oscar.
- On March 1, 1961, President John Kennedy issues Executive Order No. 10924 to establish the Peace Corps, which would send trained American men and women to foreign nations to assist in development efforts.
- On Feb. 28, 1983, the celebrated sitcom “M*A*S*H” bows out after 11 seasons, airing a special two-and-a-half hour episode watched by 77% of the viewing audience. It was the largest percentage at the time ever to watch a single TV show.
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