Today in history—June 7

1494: Spain and Portugal sign the Treaty of Tordesillas, which settles their disputes by providing that Spain will have exclusive rights to most of the New World, while Portugal gets rights to Africa, India, and East Asia.  Few other countries respect the division.

1776: Virginia lawyer Richard Henry Lee introduces his fateful resolution before the Continental Congress:

Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.—That it is expedient forthwith to take the most effectual measures for forming foreign Alliances.—That a plan of confederation be prepared and transmitted to the respective Colonies for their consideration and approbation.

1778: George Bryan “Beau” Brummell, the first professional leader of fashion in English history, is born at London.  His most lasting contribution is the invention of the idea of clean underwear.

1871: Brig. Gen. Thomas Jackson Rodman, U.S.V., whose work at Knap, Rudd & Co.’s Fort Pitt Foundry at Pittsburgh led to major advances in artillery design and construction, dies in his post as commander of the Rock Island Arsenal in Illinois.

1909: The Panama Railroad & Steamship Line’s S.S. Alliance becomes the first passenger vessel to vessel to pass through the Gatun Locks on the Panama Canal.

1929: Future lawyer and Canadian Prime Minister John Napier Turner, who will lead the battle against free trade with the U.S., is born at Richmond, Surrey, England.

1955: A new summer replacement program airs on CBS. Within weeks Revlon’s The $64,000 Question will become a national phenomenon.

1965: Sony unveils the first consumer videotape recorder. Price? Under $3,000.

1967: After several failed suicide attempts over the years, writer and wit Dorothy Parker dies of a heart attack.