Wikipedia:Main Page history/2011 January 9

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Today's featured article
John L. Helm (1802–1867) was the 18th and 24th governor of Kentucky, although his aggregate service in that office was less than fourteen months. He also represented Hardin County in both houses of the Kentucky General Assembly and was chosen Speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives four times. In 1838 his sole bid for national office ended in defeat when his opponent, Willis Green, was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. After his service as governor Helm became president of the struggling Louisville and Nashville Railroad. Although he openly opposed secession during the American Civil War, federal military forces labeled Helm a Confederate sympathizer. In September 1862, he was arrested for this alleged sympathy, but Governor James F. Robinson recognized him as he was being transported to a prison in Louisville and had him released. After the war Helm identified with the Democratic Party, and in 1865 Hardin County voters returned him to the state senate. In 1867 he was the state's Democratic candidate for governor. Despite his failing health, Helm made a vigorous canvass of the state and won the general election. He was too weak to travel to Frankfort for his inauguration, so state officials administered the oath of office at his home on September 3, 1867. He died five days later. (more...) Recently featured: "Like a Rolling Stone" – Princess Charlotte of Wales – "Homer's Enemy" Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest articles: ... that during a river cruise Russian statesman Grigory Potemkin (pictured), unable to organise dinner for Catherine the Great and the Holy Roman Emperor, resorted to cooking for them himself? ... that the range of the rodent Macrotarsomys petteri is believed to have shifted as a result of climatic change? ... that Bach's cantata Mein liebster Jesus ist verloren, BWV 154, first performed on 9 January 1724, "contains a graphic evocation of ear drumming", according to Gardiner? ... that the last will and testament of Adolf Hitler was discovered in 1945 by Arnold Weiss of the United States Army, who had come to Wisconsin as a Jewish orphan from Nazi Germany at the age of 13? ... that Neil Young scored the winning goal in the 1969 FA Cup Final? ... that Bishop Oldham liked to eat punctually on the hour, so when he was late his servant manipulated time to make sure that he did? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
A shooting in Arizona leaves at least six people dead and U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords (pictured) critically injured. Andrew Wakefield's study linking autism to the MMR vaccine is declared a fraud by the British medical journal BMJ. The U.S. government oil spill commission releases a report accusing BP, Halliburton and Transocean of managerial failure in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. A series of floods affects more than 450,000 people in the Philippines. Salmaan Taseer, the Governor of the Pakistani province of Punjab, is assassinated. A series of floods affects more than 200,000 people in Australia, primarily in the state of Queensland. A bomb explodes outside a Coptic church in Alexandria, Egypt, killing at least 21 people and wounding 70 others. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
January 9: Republic Day in Republika Srpska (1992) 1127 – Invading Jin soldiers besieged and sacked Kaifeng and abducted Emperor Qinzong (pictured) and others, ending the Northern Song Dynasty of China. 1768 – Philip Astley staged the first modern circus in London. 1909 – Ernest Shackleton, leading the Nimrod Expedition, planted the British flag 97 miles (156 km) from the South Pole, the furthest anyone had ever reached at that time. 1917 – World War I: Troops of the British Empire defeated Ottoman forces at the Battle of Rafa on the Sinai–Palestine border in present-day Rafah. 1972 – The Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association lost to the Milwaukee Bucks, ending a 33-game winning streak, the longest of any team in American professional sports. More anniversaries: January 8 – January 9 – January 10 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now January 9 2011 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

U.S. President Calvin Coolidge shaking hands with baseball player Walter Johnson and presenting him with a "diploma" for the Washington Senators winning the 1924 American League championship. Johnson was one of the most accomplished pitchers in Major League Baseball history. He established several pitching records, some of which remain unbroken, including career shutouts (110) and most consecutive seasons leading the league in strikeouts (8).

Photo: National Photo Company; Restoration: Staxringold

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