Today in History: Tennis and Politics?!?!

IT'S A HAPPY UNICORN BIRTHDAY! Happy Birthday to the, engrossing and zany, CINDY HO.

First New York Governor, George Clinton

In about a year after the United States adopts the Declaration of Independence, the state of New York elects their first governor, Brigadier General George Clinton, on this day in 1777. Clinton is currently the longest serving governor in New York and the entire United States, serving 18 years from 1777-1795, and another 3 years from 1801 to 1804. He also became vice president of the United States in 1805, serving until his death in 1812. Clinton was in the Continental Congress and favored the Declaration, however, did not endorse the U.S Constitution until the Bill of Rights was added.

President Zachary Taylor was a wartime hero, but considered to be one of the worst presidents in American history. On this day in 1850, President Taylor dies unexpectedly after only 16 months in office at the age of 65. Taylor suffered through many symptoms leading to his death including severe cramping, diarrhea, nausea, and dehydration. Physicians concluded that Taylor had cholera morbus, infection of the small intestine. Taylor's vice president, Millard Fillmore, filled his position the next day.

12th President of the United
States, Zachary Taylor

A depiction of Spencer Gore,
the first Wimbledon Champion

Over the weekend, the world's oldest and renowned tennis match, Wimbledon, ended with Andy Murray becoming the first British men's single champion since Fred Perry in 1936. Though 77 years of this drought seems very long, the history of Wimbledon dates back even longer into 1877. On this day in 1877, twenty-one amateur tennis players show up in a small suburb outside of London, Wimbledon, to play in a Gentlemen's Singles tournament. The Gentlemen's Singles was the only event at the first Wimbledon, with the winner of this event winning a 25-guinea trophy. Twenty-two men registered for this tournament  though only twenty-one showed up. The final winner of the first Wimbledon was a cricket player, Spencer Gore. Ladies Singles was introduced into Wimbledon into Wimbledon in 1884 with Maud Watson winning the first Ladies event.