Day in History Archive - May 13

May 13

1878: Joseph Henry, discoverer of the principle of self-induction, and after whom the unit of inductance is named, died. 1884: The American Institute of Electrical Engineers (AIEE) was formed (forerunner to the IEEE). 1890: Nikola Tesla was issued a patent for a pyromagneto electric generator. 1912: The Royal Flying Corps was established its second wing. 1913: Igor Sikorsky flew the first four engine aircraft. 1918: The first U.S. airmail postage stamps were issued with airplanes on them. 1958: The Velcro trademark was registered for a fabric hook and loop fastener. 1967: Mickey Mantle hit his 500th homerun. 1984: Stanislaw Ulam, who determined the way to initiate fusion in a nuclear bomb was to use a fission reaction to create the necessary compression, died. 1992: Three astronauts from the space shuttle "Endeavour" captured a wayward Intelsat-6 communications satellite during the first-ever 3-person spacewalk.