Wikipedia:Main Page history/2012 June 24

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Today's featured article
Francis Walsingham (c.1532–1590) was principal secretary to Queen Elizabeth I of England from 20 December 1573 until his death, and is popularly remembered as her "spymaster". A committed Protestant, during the reign of the Catholic Queen Mary I of England he joined other expatriates in exile in Switzerland and northern Italy until Mary's death and the accession of her Protestant half-sister, Elizabeth. Walsingham rose from relative obscurity to become one of the small coterie who directed the Elizabethan state, overseeing foreign, domestic and religious policy. He served as English ambassador to France in the early 1570s, and witnessed the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre. As principal secretary, he was a supporter of exploration, colonization, the use of England's maritime power, and the plantation of Ireland. He worked to bring Scotland and England together. Overall, his foreign policy demonstrated a new understanding of the role of England as a maritime, Protestant power in an increasingly global economy. He oversaw operations that penetrated the heart of Spanish military preparation, gathered intelligence from across Europe, disrupted a range of plots against Elizabeth, and secured the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots. (more...) Recently featured: Nansen's Fram expedition – Petrified Forest National Park – Dan Leno Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that the Royal Navy's Kil class gunboats (pictured) were designed to confuse observers in U-boats with their dazzle camouflage and double-ended hulls? ... that over five hundred Ainu hilltop forts, known as chashi, have been identified in Hokkaidō? ... that Bach's chorale cantata Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam, BWV 7, for St. John's Day, is based on Luther's hymn about the baptism of Jesus? ... that Naomi Fischer-Rasmussen will be the first woman to represent Australia in boxing when she competes at the 2012 Summer Olympics? ... that Adaptiv can hide a tank from thermal imaging systems, or make it look like a car? ... that Kyle Larson won the first stock car race he ever competed in? ... that the fungus Willkommlangea reticulata is the only species of its genus? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo (pictured) is removed from office by impeachment and succeeded by Federico Franco. In basketball, the Miami Heat defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder to win the NBA championship. About 90 people are missing after a boat carrying more than 200 people capsizes in the Indian Ocean between Java and Christmas Island. Raja Pervaiz Ashraf is appointed Prime Minister of Pakistan following the disqualification of Yousaf Raza Gillani. The 7th G-20 summit is held in Los Cabos, Mexico. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
June 24: Nativity of St. John the Baptist in Christianity; Battle of Carabobo Day in Venezuela (1821); National Holiday/Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day in Quebec, Canada 1622 – Dutch–Portuguese War: An outnumbered Portuguese force repelled a Dutch attack in the Battle of Macau, the only major military engagement that was fought between two European powers on the Chinese mainland. 1812 – Napoleonic Wars: The French Grande Armée under Napoleon crossed the Neman River, marking the start of their invasion of Russia. 1932 – A group of military and civilians engineered a bloodless coup in Siam, ending the absolute rule of the Chakri Dynasty. 1981 – The Humber Bridge (pictured) opened, connecting the East Riding of Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire in England, at the time the longest single-span suspension bridge. 1982 – British Airways Flight 9 flew into a cloud of volcanic ash thrown up by the eruption of Indonesia's Mount Galunggung, resulting in the failure of all four of its engines. More anniversaries: June 23 – June 24 – June 25 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now June 24, 2012 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

A Malmtrafik Iore-hauled train on the Iron Ore Line, a 398-kilometre (247 mi) long railway line between Riksgränsen and Boden in Norrbotten County, Sweden. The line is dominated by the 8,600-tonne (8,500-long-ton; 9,500-short-ton) freight trains carrying ore from the mines to the ports in Narvik and Luleå.

Photo: David Gubler

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