Dipper Carter (born 1856)

In 1856, in the year that Dipper Carter was born, on January 26th the Battle of Seattle occurred. Marines from the ship the USS Decatur, stationed in Elliott Bay, along with about 50 Seattle settlers, fought Native Americans in the area. Territorial Governor Isaac Stevens had declared a "war of extermination" on Native communities 5 days before.

In 1869, on March 4th, Ulysses S. Grant became the 18th President of the United States. Previously a Union General, Grant beat the Democrat candidate, Horatio Seymour, 52.7% to 47.3% in the general vote.

In 1938, 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.

In 1946, pediatrician Dr. Benjamin Spock's book "The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care" was published. It sold half a million copies in the first six months. Aside from the Bible, it became the best selling book of the 20th century. A generation of Baby Boomers were raised by the advice of Dr. Spock.

In 1997, on July 1st, Hong Kong was returned to China. In 1898, Great Britain was awarded Hong Kong for 99 years. In a subsequent agreement, China agreed to allow Hong Kong to remain capitalist. So the handing over of the area ended British rule but did not change the economic system of Hong Kong.