The first edition of the Gothic novel “Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus” by English author Mary Shelley, 20, is published. President Abraham Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation. Fidel Castro and his revolutionaries overthrow Cuban leader Fulgencio Batista.

Fidel Castro died as he lived: to the sound of useful idiots making allowances for his crimes. The gold medal in the Useful Idiot Olympics should probably go to Justin Trudeau, the prime minister of Canada. In a statement, he expressed his "deep sorrow" upon learning that "Cuba's longest serving president" had died. One can only imagine what George Orwell could do with that one word, "serving." Castro did not serve, he ruled a nation of servants, often cruelly, while making obscene profits for himself and his family.