1861 - Colonel Robert E. Lee turns down offer to command Union armies (US Civil War) 1881 - Natural History Museum opens in South Kensington‚ England 1904 - 8th Boston Marathon won by Michael Spring in 2:38:04.4 1916 - Edith Wharton is appointed Chevalier of the Legion of Honour‚ France’s highest award‚ for her contribution to the war effort 1939 - Franz von Papen becomes German ambassador in Turkey 1942 - &;quot;Stars and Stripes&;quot; paper for US armed forces starts 1945 - 1 armed outfielder‚ St Louis Brown Pete Gray‚ 1st game he goes 1 for 4 1955 - 1st &;quot;Walk&;quot;/&;quot;Don't Walk&;quot; lighted street signals installed 1958 - A United States federal court rules that poet Ezra Pound is to be released from an insane asylum. 2017 - British Prime Minister Teresa May announces she will seek a &;quot;snap&;quot; election More Historical Events »