Wikipedia:Main Page history/2012 August 21

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Today's featured article
USS New Ironsides was a wooden-hulled broadside ironclad built for the United States Navy during the American Civil War. The ship was commissioned midway through the war on 21 August 1862. She spent most of her career blockading the Confederate ports of Charleston, South Carolina, and Wilmington, North Carolina, in 1863–65, and bombarded the fortifications defending Charleston during the First and Second Battles of Charleston Harbor. At the end of 1864 and the beginning of 1865 New Ironsides bombarded the defenses of Wilmington in the First and Second Battles of Fort Fisher. Although she was struck many times by Confederate shells, gunfire never significantly damaged the ship or injured the crew. Her only casualty in combat occurred when she was struck by a spar torpedo carried by the Confederate torpedo boat David. Eight crewmen were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions during the Second Battle of Fort Fisher in 1865. The ship was placed in reserve after the war but was destroyed by fire in 1866. (more...) Recently featured: Smith Act trials of Communist Party leaders – Rus' Khaganate – Stanley Holloway Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that Danish designer Henrik Vibskov (pictured), creator of the "Big Wet Shiny Boobies Collection", was inducted into the Chambre Syndicale de la Mode Masculine? ... that about one-third of Iowa's population lives along the I-80 corridor? ... that in 1634, Boston innkeeper Samuel Cole established the first tavern in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, which was featured in Longfellow's play John Endicott? ... that the 1994 National Convention of New Sudan outlined a civil political administration for the areas held by SPLA guerrillas? ... that although her character had been dead from the beginning of the series, Sheryl Lee was asked to return for "Episode 3" of Twin Peaks? ... that Elena Arzak was named the best female chef in the world in 2012 by Restaurant magazine? ... that philosopher Gottfried Leibniz referred to Gervase of Tilbury's 1214 encyclopedia Otia Imperialia as a "bagful of foolish old woman's tales"? ... that Professor Pepper could make ghosts appear but could not make it rain despite the use of swivel guns, rockets, and a land mine? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi dies at the age of 57. Burma announces an end to pre-publication censorship of print media. Gu Kailai, the wife of Chinese politician Bo Xilai, is given a suspended death sentence for the murder of British businessman Neil Heywood. Thirty-two people are killed in a plane crash in Sudan, including members of the Sudanese government and military. Chinese and Japanese activists stage protests around the disputed Senkaku islands (Uotsuri-jima pictured). Three members of Pussy Riot, a Russian feminist punk band, are found guilty of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred. Syrian civil war – Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
August 21: Ninoy Aquino Day in the Philippines 1689 – Jacobite risings: Jacobite clans supporting the deposed king James VII of Scotland clashed with a government regiment of Covenanters supporting William of Orange, in the streets around Dunkeld Cathedral, Dunkeld, Scotland. 1858 – The first of seven debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas, candidates for an Illinois seat in the United States Senate, was held in Ottawa, Illinois. 1942 – World War II: The Imperial Japanese Army lost the Battle of the Tenaru, the first of its three major land offensives during the Guadalcanal Campaign. 1986 – A limnic eruption of a cloud of carbon dioxide from Lake Nyos (pictured) in Cameroon killed up to 1,700 people and 3,500 livestock in nearby villages. 1992 – United States Marshals engaged a fugitive in a shootout at Ruby Ridge, Idaho, beginning a twelve-day siege. More anniversaries: August 20 – August 21 – August 22 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now August 21, 2012 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

An 1805 depiction of a Khoikhoi family dismantling their huts, preparing to move to new pastures. The Khoikhoi are a native people of southwestern Africa, closely related to the Bushmen. Most of the Khoikhoi have largely disappeared as a group, except for the largest group, the Namas.

Artist: Samuel Daniell

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