@rh18bold:Today in History

Today is Tuesday, August 25, the 237th day of 2009. There are 128 days left in the year.

On this date

In 1825, Uruguay declared independence from Brazil.

In 1875, Capt. Matthew Webb became the first person to swim across the English Channel, getting from Dover, England, to Calais, France, in 22 hours.

In 1936, 16 opponents of Soviet leader Josef Stalin were executed after a show trial.

In 1942, the Duke of Kent, youngest brother of Britain's King George VI, was killed in an air crash on a wartime mission to Iceland.

In 1944, Paris was liberated by Allied forces after four years of Nazi occupation.

In 1988, direct talks between Iran and Iraq began in an attempt to end their eight-year-old war.

Thought for Today

"No matter what accomplishments you make, somebody helps you." — Althea Gibson, American tennis champion (born this date in 1927, died 2003).