Wikipedia:Main Page history/2011 September 1

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Today's featured article
John C. W. Beckham (1869–1940) was the 35th Governor of Kentucky and a United States Senator. Descended from a prominent political family, Beckham was chosen as Democrat William Goebel's running mate in the gubernatorial election of 1899 when the former was not yet of legal age to serve as governor. Goebel lost the election to Republican William S. Taylor, but the Kentucky General Assembly disputed the election results. During the political wrangling that followed, an unknown assassin shot Goebel. A day later the General Assembly invalidated enough votes to give the election to Goebel, who was sworn into office on his deathbed. Taylor claimed the election had been stolen by the Democratic majority in the General Assembly and a legal fight ensued between him and Beckham over the governorship. Beckham ultimately prevailed and Taylor fled the state. Following his term as governor, Beckham made a bid to become a U.S. Senator, but the seat went to Republican William O. Bradley. Six years later Beckham secured the seat by popular election, but he lost his re-election bid largely because of his pro-temperance views and his opposition to women's suffrage. He died in Louisville on January 9, 1940. (more...) Recently featured: Don Valley Parkway – Hemming's Cartulary – Orval Grove Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that spines of the purple sea urchin (pictured) provide shelter for large-headed Goby juveniles? ... that his first fight against Gray Maynard was "a turning point" in Frankie Edgar's career? ... that professor emeritus Gerhard Tötemeyer dropped out of school because he spoke neither English nor Afrikaans, the official languages in South-West Africa? ... that buds of Tennessee yellow-eyed grass are forced open by the bee Lasioglossum zephyrum, seeking first access to the flowers' pollen? ... that both the Tarnogród Confederation and the Silent Sejm were engineered by Russian Tsar Peter the Great to strengthen Russia's influence in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth? ... that while serving in the Nixon administration, Barry Locke also worked as a boxing manager? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
The ruling Democratic Party of Japan selects Yoshihiko Noda (pictured) as the country's new prime minister, following the resignation of Naoto Kan. Indian civil activist Anna Hazare ends his 12-day fast after the Parliament of India adopts a resolution to pass an ombudsman bill. Tony Tan Keng Yam is elected President of Singapore. Samples of asteroid 25143 Itokawa retrieved by the Hayabusa probe confirm that most meteorites originate from S-type asteroids. Hurricane Irene hits the Caribbean and U.S. East Coast, causing at least 54 deaths and an estimated US$10.1 billion in damage. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
September 1: Start of the Liturgical year in the Eastern Orthodox Church; Ganesh Chaturthi (Hinduism, 2011); Constitution Day in Slovakia; Independence Day in Uzbekistan (1991) 1604 – Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the religious text of Sikhism, was installed at Harmandir Sahib. 1902 – The first science fiction film, titled A Trip to the Moon and based on From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne, was released in France. 1920 – The Fountain of Time (detail pictured) opened as a tribute to the 100 years of peace between the United States and Great Britain following the Treaty of Ghent. 1939 – Nazi Germany invaded Poland at Wieluń and Westerplatte, starting World War II in Europe. 1961 – The thirty-year Eritrean War of Independence began when rebels led by Hamid Idris Awate fired shots at the Ethiopian Army. More anniversaries: August 31 – September 1 – September 2 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now September 1, 2011 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

A juvenile Bennett's Wallaby, a subspecies of the Red-necked Wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus rufogriseus), on Maria Island, east of Tasmania. Red-necked Wallabies can be found in the more temperate and fertile parts of eastern Australia. They can weigh 13.8 to 18.6 kg (30 to 41 lb) and attain a head–body length of 90 cm (35 in), with the island version slightly smaller.

Photo: JJ Harrison

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