Wikipedia:Main Page history/2011 May 5

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Today's featured article
William Garrow (1760–1840) was a British barrister, politician and judge known for his indirect reform of the advocacy system, which helped usher in the adversarial court system used in most common law nations today. He introduced the phrase "innocent until proven guilty", insisting that defendants' accusers and their evidence be thoroughly tested in court. Garrow is best known for his criminal defence work and the example he set with his aggressive defence of clients. Garrow joined Lincoln's Inn in November 1778, and was called to the Bar on 27 November 1783. He quickly established a reputation as a criminal law barrister, particularly for the defendants, and in February 1793 was made a King's Counsel by HM Government to prosecute cases involving treason and felonies. Garrow is also known for his impact on the rules of evidence, coining the best evidence rule. His work was cited as recently as 1982 in the Supreme Court of Canada and 2006 in the Irish Court of Criminal Appeal. In 2009, BBC One broadcast Garrow's Law, a four-part fictionalised drama of Garrow's beginnings at the Old Bailey; a second series aired in late 2010. (more...) Recently featured: Flowing Hair dollar – Shadow the Hedgehog – Brabham Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest articles: ... that during a 1762 British siege of the Fortress of the Immaculate Conception (pictured) in El Castillo village within El Castillo municipality, Nicaragua, Rafaela Herrera inspired the outnumbered Spanish defenders to victory? ... that Heather Knight was the first woman to be selected President of Pacific Union College and the first African American woman to lead an Adventist College in North America? ... that Footes Lane is the main sporting venue in Guernsey? ... that in 1852 Franz Johann Joseph Bock founded the first large exhibition of ancient masterpieces of Christian art? ... that St Lawrence's Church in Broughton, Buckinghamshire, is listed Grade I because of its "remarkable series" of medieval wall paintings? ... that Curry Hicks was the head football coach for the Michigan State Normal Normalites in 1910 and the athletic director at UMass from 1911 to 1949? ... that the buildings in Jižní Město, the Czech Republic's largest housing estate, were color-coded to facilitate orientation? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
Claude Choules, the last surviving combatant of World War I, dies at the age of 110. The Conservative Party, led by Stephen Harper (pictured), wins a majority in the Canadian federal election. John Higgins defeats Judd Trump to win the World Snooker Championship. Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden is killed by U.S. forces at his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. The flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder from Air France Flight 447, which crashed into the Atlantic in 2009, are recovered from the ocean floor. Pope John Paul II is beatified at a ceremony in Vatican City. Syrian unrest – Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
May 5: Cinco de Mayo; Liberation Day in Denmark, Ethiopia, and the Netherlands; Children's Day in Japan and South Korea; National Day of Prayer in United States 1260 – Kublai Khan (pictured) claimed the title of Khagan of the Mongol Empire after the death of his older brother Möngke in the previous year. 1860 – Led by Italian general Giuseppe Garibaldi, the volunteer Expedition of the Thousand set sail from Genoa on a campaign to conquer the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. 1940 – World War II: A squad of 250 Norwegian volunteers in Hegra Fortress finally surrendered to a vastly superior Nazi force after a 25-day siege. 1961 – Project Mercury: Aboard the American spacecraft Freedom 7, astronaut Alan Shepard made a sub-orbital flight, becoming the second person to travel into outer space after Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. 1981 – After sixty-six days without food, Irish republican Bobby Sands died of starvation in HM Prison Maze. More anniversaries: May 4 – May 5 – May 6 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now May 5, 2011 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

A Little Wattlebird (Anthochaera chrysoptera) among Red Flowering Gum flowers. It is the smallest of the wattlebirds, but considered medium-to-large in the honeyeater family. Little Wattlebirds feed on nectar obtained with a long, brush-tipped tongue adapted for probing deep into flowers.

Photo: JJ Harrison

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