The Great Siege of Gibraltar was a pivotal conflict during the American Revolutionary War, lasting from June 24, 1779, to February 7, 1783. It was an attempt by Spain and France to recapture Gibraltar from Great Britain, but it ultimately ended in a British victory, solidifying British control over the territory. Gibraltar was a crucial naval stronghold at the entrance of the Mediterranean. It had been under British control since 1704, and Spain, eager to reclaim it, saw an opportunity during the American War of Independence, aligning with France to launch a siege against the British garrison stationed there.

The siege began with a naval blockade in June 1779, as Spanish and French forces sought to starve out the British garrison. Supplies became scarce, and British troops endured severe hardship. However, British naval convoys managed to break through on multiple occasions, bringing essential provisions and reinforcements. The Franco-Spanish forces continued to launch artillery bombardments, subjecting Gibraltar to near-constant shelling. The British defenders, under the leadership of General George Augustus Eliott, fortified their positions and responded with well-coordinated counterattacks. Underground tunnels were expanded to allow for more strategic artillery placements, giving the defenders a crucial advantage.

In November 1781, the British launched a successful charge, destroying enemy batteries and dealing a significant blow to the forces. In response, Spain and France devised their most ambitious attack yet: the Grand Assault of September 13, 1782. The combined Franco-Spanish fleet deployed advanced floating batteries, designed to be resistant to cannon fire, while over 60,000 troops prepared for a land assault.

However, the British defenders used a countermeasure called —red-hot shot—heated cannonballs fired at the enemy ships. This tactic proved devastating, setting several floating batteries ablaze and causing chaos among the attackers. The assault ended in disaster for the Franco-Spanish forces, with massive losses and no territorial gains.

Following the failed Grand Assault, Spanish and French forces continued bombardments but failed to make any real gains on the British forces. In late 1782, Admiral Richard Howe’s fleet arrived with reinforcements, effectively ending the siege, and leading to the eventual signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783 which formally ended war, confirming Gibraltar as British territory. Today the Great Siege of Gibraltar remains one of the longest and most significant sieges in British military history.

NASA’s astronaut Bruce McCandless II made history by performing the first-ever untethered spacewalk using the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU). This groundbreaking event took place during the STS-41-B mission aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger and demonstrated a new way astronauts could move in space. Before 1984, spacewalks, or extravehicular activities (EVAs), required astronauts to remain physically tethered to their spacecraft. The development of the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU), a nitrogen-gas-powered backpack, allowed astronauts to move freely without a tether, significantly advancing spaceflight technology and extravehicular operations.

On February 7, 1984, McCandless stepped out of Challenger’s payload bay equipped with the MMU, becoming the first human to float freely in space without any physical connection to a spacecraft. Using small thrusters controlled by hand, McCandless maneuvered up to 328 feet (100 meters) from the shuttle, farther than any astronaut had traveled without a tether. But McCandless wasn't alone, Astronaut Robert L. Stewart also performed an untethered spacewalk later in the mission, further demonstrating the MMU’s capabilities. 

The untethered spacewalk marked a significant milestone in space exploration, proving that astronauts could safely conduct independent operations in orbit. The MMU was also used in later missions, including satellite retrieval and repair, before being retired and replaced by robotic systems and the tethered Simplified Aid for EVA Rescue (SAFER) unit. 

Iconic images of McCandless floating freely against the backdrop of space became some of the most memorable in spaceflight history, symbolizing the bold advancements of human space exploration. The first untethered spacewalk remains a testament to NASA’s ingenuity and a defining moment in the history of extravehicular activity, paving the way for future deep-space missions and space station operations.

Ancient Birth Control
The Ancient Egyptians believed that crocodile poop could prevent pregnancy. Women would mix the dried up poop with honey or other substances and put it right where you’re thinking. Pretty gross, but it must have worked because it stuck around until the Ancient Greeks adopted it years later!

Snail Battle
Between the 13th and 14th-century, many artists frequently drew fully armored knights squaring off against snails—and somehow, the snails always seemed to win. Was it a joke? A metaphor? A medieval meme about battle? Historians still aren’t sure. But one thing is clear: some poor knight, somewhere, must’ve lost a fight to a very determined snail.

Bethovens Ice Bath
Beethoven had some unique creative rituals, but one of the strangest? Dunking his head in cold water before composing. Some believe it helped him stay alert and focused, kind of like an 18th-century energy drink. Others think it was his way of clearing his mind before a show. Whatever the reason, it clearly worked—because the man produced some of the greatest music of all time.

First Traffic Light
In 1868, London installed the world’s first traffic light outside the Houses of Parliament. Designed to control horse-drawn carriages and pedestrians, it ran on gas lamps and had to be manually operated by a police officer. Sounds great—except for one small issue: it exploded. Just weeks after installation, a gas leak caused the light to burst into flames, injuring the officer operating it. Needless to say, traffic lights didn’t make a comeback until electricity took over decades later.

If you enjoy this edition of Today In History be sure to send it to a friend and force them to sign up because that’s what good friends do. Until next time, stay curious, question everything, and keep uncovering the mysteries of the past. - Zach⛺️