On this day in 1653, Oliver Cromwell becomes lord protector of England, Scotland and Ireland. "Anyone wants to mess with England, Scotland, or Ireland has to go through me," he says with a swagger.

On this day in 1773, the Boston Tea Party takes place as American colonists board a British ship and dump more than 300 chests of tea overboard to protest tea taxes. The British boil the harbor water and drink it.

On this day in 1905, the entertainment trade publication Variety comes out with its first issue, and its first headline, "FIRST ISH WRAPS FISH."


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