Albert E Pfaffenzeller (died 1938)

In 1828, Hungarian inventor and physicist, Ányos Jedlik - a Benedictine priest - created the world's first electric motor, which he called an electromotor. Currently, the motor still works.

In 1846, on November 4th, the Donner Party was stranded in the Sierra Nevada on its way to California. The ill-fated wagon train was snowed in and couldn't get out of the mountains for 3 months. Some went for help - on foot - but the majority of the 87 people in the wagon train were stuck in heavy snow, without food. Only 48 of the original settlers survived - some by cannibalism of the dead.

In 1857, on March 6th, the US Supreme Court ruled that Blacks were not citizens and that slaves couldn't sue for freedom. The case was known as Dred Scott v. Sandford. It further divided the country and added to the forces that created the Civil War. It wasn't overturned until the 14th Amendment became law in 1868.

In 1873, on May 27th, German archaeologist and businessman Heinrich Schliemann found what he said was "Priam's Treasure" - confirming the existence of ancient Troy. The find in Hissarlik Turkey is still disputed as being a part of Troy.

In 1938, in the year of Albert E Pfaffenzeller's passing, on October 30th, a Sunday, The Mercury Theatre on the Air broadcast Orson Welles' special Halloween show The War of the World's. A clever take on H.G. Wells' novel, the show began with simulated "breaking news" of an invasion by Martians. Because of the realistic nature of the "news," there was a public outcry the next day, calling for regulation by the FCC. Although the current story is that many were fooled and panicked, in reality very few people were fooled. But the show made Orson Welles' career.