A court of law's final order officially ending a marriage, enabling either party to remarry.
Decree absolute
Fact of the Day
A Templar knight, as well as being chaste and vowing to avoid luxury, slept for just four hours a night, attended up to seven masses a day, and fasted three times a week.
Quote of the Day
"Nobody is healthy in London. Nobody can be.
"
~ Jane Austen (Emma)
On This Day
43 BCE The assassination of Cicero, requested by Marc Antony. When his head was delivered to Anthony, his wife, Fulvia, spat on it and jabbed hairpins into his tongue.
1732 The Theatre Royal, now known as the Covent Garden Opera House, opened with a performance of the Beggar's Opera.
1787 Delaware became the first state of the modern United States.
1817 Rear-Admiral William Bligh died. He had been captain of HMS Bounty during the mutiny.
1941 The Japanese launched a surprise attack on the American naval base a Pearl Harbour, Hawaii, killing 2,403.
1982 Charles Brooks Jr became the first person to be executed by lethal injection, with a huge dose of 'truth serum'
