Clarissa Ann Beatty (born 1833)

In 1833, in the year that Clarissa Ann Beatty was born, on August 12th, Chicago was incorporated as a town at the estuary of the Chicago River by 350 settlers. Chicago’s first permanent resident was a trader named Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, a free black man -perhaps from Haiti - who went there in the late 1770s. At first, it was simply a trading post but it grew quickly, going from trading post to town to city in 1837.

In 1853, on March 4th, Franklin Pierce became the 14th President of the United States. His son had been killed in a train accident that also involved Pierce and his wife on January 6 - the only of 3 sons to survive until then. Due to the resultant depression and his unpopular policies, he was not re-nominated for President and served only one term.

In 1884, on December 6th, the Washington Monument was completed. Building began in 1848 but was stopped because of lack of funds and also due to the Civil War. It would be dedicated in 1885. At the time of its completion, it was the tallest structure in the world.

In 1952, on February 6th, George VI of England died from a coronary thrombosis and complications due to lung cancer. His eldest daughter, age 25, immediately ascended the throne as Elizabeth II and her coronation was on June 2 1953.

In 1963, the British Secretary of War, 46 year old John Profumo ,was forced to resign when he lied about an affair with 19 year old Christine Keeler. Keeler was also involved with the Soviet naval attaché and charges of espionage were feared. No proof of spying was ever found.