Wikipedia:Main Page history/2011 February 6

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Today's featured article
Battersea Bridge is a cast iron and granite five-span cantilever bridge crossing the River Thames in London, England. It is situated on a sharp bend in the river, and links Battersea south of the river with Chelsea to the north. The bridge replaced a ferry service that had operated near the site since at least the 16th century. The first Battersea Bridge was a toll bridge commissioned by John, Earl Spencer. A poor design by Henry Holland made the bridge unpopular and dangerous both to its users and to passing shipping. Although boats often collided with it, the bridge was the last surviving wooden bridge on the Thames in London, and was the subject of paintings by many significant artists such as J. M. W. Turner, John Sell Cotman and James McNeill Whistler, including Whistler's controversial and influential Nocturne: Blue and Gold – Old Battersea Bridge. In 1879 the bridge was taken into public ownership, and in 1885 demolished and replaced with the existing bridge, designed by Sir Joseph Bazalgette and built by John Mowlem & Co. The narrowest surviving road bridge over the Thames in London, it is one of London's least busy Thames bridges. The location on a bend in the river makes the bridge a hazard to shipping, and it has been closed many times due to collisions. (more...) Recently featured: Shale oil extraction – Erie, Pennsylvania – Cottingley Fairies Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest articles: ... that the Musiktheater im Revier (pictured) in Gelsenkirchen staged a new musical for the 100th anniversary of the soccer club FC Schalke 04 in 2004? ... that Ralph Crosthwaite never played in the NBA, despite being drafted by both the Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics? ... that, in female bedbugs, the spermalege reduces the wounding costs caused by a male's needle-like penis? ... that the statue George Washington by Richard Henry Park was the first public monument in Milwaukee? ... that the archaeological site of Tell Bazmusian in Iraq was flooded by Lake Dukan? ... that Catholic Bishop of Adelaide Laurence Sheil excommunicated Mary MacKillop, who eventually became Australia's first saint? ... that the Frankfurter Löwen, founded in 1977, were the first American football club to be formed in Germany and winner of the first two editions of the German Bowl? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
Mohammad Asif The Japan Sumo Association cancels a Grand Tournament for the first time in 65 years after a match-fixing controversy. Following an explosion affecting the Arab Gas Pipeline in Egypt's North Sinai Governorate, natural gas supplies to Israel and Jordan are suspended. The International Cricket Council bans Pakistani cricketers Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif (pictured), and Salman Butt for five years for spot-fixing. The Parliament of Nepal elects Jhala Nath Khanal Prime Minister, ending seven months of political gridlock. Burmese Prime Minister Thein Sein is named President, following the 2010 general election. IANA allocates the last free blocks of IPv4 internet addresses to the regional Internet registries. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
February 6 1778 – France and the United States signed the Treaty of Alliance and the Treaty of Amity and Commerce, establishing military and commercial ties respectively between the two nations. 1806 – Napoleonic Wars: When squadrons of British and French ships of the line engaged in the Battle of San Domingo (pictured) in the Caribbean Sea, the French ships Impérial and Diomède ran aground to avoid capture, but were caught and destroyed anyway. 1959 – Jack Kilby, an engineer at Texas Instruments, filed a patent application for the first integrated circuit. 1987 – Mary Gaudron was appointed as the first female Justice of the High Court of Australia. 2000 – Second Chechen War: Russia captured Grozny, the capital of Chechnya, forcing the separatist Chechen government into exile. More anniversaries: February 5 – February 6 – February 7 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now February 6 2011 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

Ronald Reagan (1911–2004) was an actor-turned-politician who served as the 40th President of the United States (1981–1989) and the 33rd Governor of California (1967–1975). Reagan was born in Tampico, Illinois, and moved to Los Angeles, California in 1937. As an actor, he appeared in over 50 films and served as president of the Screen Actors Guild. He turned to politics in the mid-1960s, winning the 1966 and 1970 gubernatorial elections. He failed in his presidential bids in 1968 and 1976, but finally won both the Republican nomination and election in 1980.

Photo: United States government

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