John Fitch Patents Steam-Powered Boat Revolutionizing US Transport

August 26 marks several significant historical milestones including the certification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, granting American women the right to vote, a major victory for the women's suffrage movement. The day also witnessed the first televised Major League Baseball game in 1939, which began a new era in sports broadcasting. Earlier, in 1791, John Fitch received a US patent for his steam-powered boat, which revolutionized river transportation in America and laid groundwork for future steam locomotives despite his lack of lifetime financial success. Other notable events on this date include the adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen in France in 1789, and the eruption of Krakatoa, one of the most powerful volcanic explosions in history. Additionally, recent boxing highlights include Tim Tszyu winning the vacant WBO Inter-Continental title after a dominant performance, and ongoing buzz about a possible Tszyu vs. Zerafa matchup. Meanwhile, a Civil War mystery surfaced in Vermont in 1993 when cannonballs were discovered at the bottom of Mirror Lake, though their origin remains unknown.