Thomas Bell (born 1817)

In 1817, in the year that Thomas Bell was born, King Ferdinand VII of Spain - who ruled Cuba - issued a royal decree that made the production and sale of tobacco a legal endeavor in Cuba. The decree created the birth of the Cuban cigar industry.

In 1855, on June 29th, The Daily Telegraph began in London. The newspaper began as The Daily Telegraph and Courier and still has the reputation of being a quality paper.

In 1887, on May 9th, Buffalo Bill's Wild West show opened in London. Founded in 1883, the show was attended - twice - by Queen Victoria and adored by audiences who thrilled to his fanciful acts portraying life in the "Wild West."

In 1928, aviatrix Amelia Earhart, age 31, became the first woman to fly solo across North America and back in August. In June, she had been part of a 3 man crew that flew the Atlantic Ocean but since she had no instrument training, she couldn't fly the plane - she kept the flight log. The North American flight became one of her many "firsts" as a female pilot.

In 1991, on November 7th, legendary basketball player Magic Johnson announced that he had HIV. In 1991, the public was confused about the difference between HIV and AIDS (HIV is a virus that can lead to AIDS) and there was little treatment for either. Most thought that Johnson would die within a year or so. Also, the transmission of AIDS wasn't understood so he had to retire from basketball. Magic Johnson is still alive and well.