Today in history: Secretary of State Ushur is killed by an exploding Navy cannon, in 1844

1844: A powerful new 12-inch cannon aboard the USS Princeton blew itself to pieces during a firing demonstration in Washington, killing Secretary of State Abel B. Upshur, Secretary of the Navy Thomas Gilmer and other high ranking officials.

Also today in history:

1710: In the Battle of Helsingborg, 14,000 Danes under Jorgen Rantzau are defeated by an equal number of Swedes led by Magnus Stenbock.

1915: The French launched an offensive to drive the Germans from the Champagne region, but only advanced a few hundred yards — at a cost of 50,000 casualties.

1991: As Coalition forces enter Kuwait City, Saddam Hussein ordered all remaining Iraqi forces out of Kuwait. As they withdrew, the Iraqis set fire to the Kuwaiti oil fields.

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