1985
Michael Jackson buys rights to Beatles songs
Yesterday, All My Songs Were Bought By MJThey were known as ‘the biggest pals in the music industry’. That’s right, it has to be Paul ‘Macca’ McCartney and Michael ‘Jacko’ Jackson. Paul wrote songs for Michael. They duetted together on tracks like Say Say Say and The Girl is Mine. McCartney lent Jackson an inflatable air bed when he had Tito staying for a few weeks (probably). But... Read more >
1846
The Smithsonian Institution is created
After a decade of debate about how best to spend a bequest left to America from an obscure English scientist, President James K. Polk signs the Smithsonian Institution Act into law. In 1829, James Smithson died in Italy, leaving behind a will with a peculiar footnote. In the event that his only nephew died without any heirs, Smithson decreed that the whole of his estate would go to "the United ... Read more >