TheMechanical Turk, also known as the "Automaton Chess Player" or "the Turk", was achess-playing machine, first displayed in 1770, which appeared to be able to play a strong game of chess autonomously, but whose pieces were in reality moved via levers and magnets by achess master hidden in the machine's lower cavity. The machine was toured and exhibited for 84 years as anautomaton, and continued giving occasional exhibitions until 1854, when it was destroyed in a fire. In 1857, an article published by the owner's son revealed that it was an elaboratehoax, a fact suspected by some but never fully explained while the machine still existed. Constructed byWolfgang von Kempelen to impressEmpress Maria Theresa of Austria, the Turk won most games, including those against statesmen such asNapoleon Bonaparte andBenjamin Franklin. The device demonstrated theknight's tour, a puzzle that requires aknight to visit every square of a chessboard once. (Full article...)
November 30:Saint Andrew's Day (Christianity)
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 | Shirley Chisholm (November 30, 1924 – January 1, 2005) was an American politician, educator, and author. In 1968 she became the first black woman elected to theUnited States Congress, and she representedNew York's 12th congressional district for seven terms from 1969 to 1983. In 1972 she became the first black candidate for a major party's nomination forpresident of the United States, and the first woman to run for theDemocratic Party's presidential nomination. In 2015 Chisholm was posthumously awarded thePresidential Medal of Freedom. This photograph shows Chisholm as she was announcing her candidacy for the presidency in 1972. Photograph credit: Thomas J. O'Halloran; restored byAdam Cuerden |
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