Wikipedia:Main Page history/2012 March 28

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Today's featured article
The Court of Chancery was a court of equity in England and Wales that followed a set of loose rules to avoid the slow pace of change and possible harshness (or "inequity") of the common law. The Chancery had jurisdiction over all matters of equity, including trusts, land law, the administration of the estates of lunatics and the guardianship of infants. Its initial role was somewhat different, however; as an extension of the Lord Chancellor's role as Keeper of the King's Conscience, the Court was an administrative body primarily concerned with conscientious law. Thus the Court of Chancery had a far greater remit than the common law courts, whose decisions it had the jurisdiction to overrule for much of its existence, and was far more flexible. Until the 19th century, the Court of Chancery could apply a far wider range of remedies than the common law courts, such as specific performance and injunctions, and also had some power to grant damages in special circumstances. With the shift of the Exchequer of Pleas towards a common law court, the Chancery was the only equitable body in the English legal system. (more...) Recently featured: Hurricane Eloise – Admiralty Islands campaign – Charlie Macartney Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that retired steam locomotive Illinois Central 790 (pictured) was frequently put back into service during floods because any amount of water made the diesel-electric locomotives short out? ... that George Harrison's 1973 solo song "Living in the Material World" includes all his former Beatles bandmates Paul McCartney, John Lennon and Ringo Starr? ... that in 2012 the World Bank presidential election will include non-American candidates for the first time? ... that Australian field hockey player Matthew Gohdes is the cousin of Kookaburras teammate Jamie Dwyer, and rooms with teammate Matthew Swann? ... that a 7th-century grave in Cambridge discovered in 2011 held the remains of an Anglo-Saxon teenage girl who was lying on a bed, with a gold and garnet cross on her breast? ... that as long ago as 1919, women's garden clubs in the United States were campaigning against highway billboards? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
Deepsea Challenger, a submersible vehicle, completes the first solo voyage to reach the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench, the deepest point on Earth. Macky Sall (pictured) is elected President of Senegal. The African Union suspends Mali after President Amadou Toumani Touré is ousted in a coup d'état. The Mahon Tribunal into political corruption in Ireland concludes with findings against high-profile politicians, including two former Taoisigh. Mohammed Merah, the suspect in a series of fatal shootings in southern France, dies during a police siege. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
March 28: Teachers' Day in the Czech Republic; Serfs Emancipation Day in Tibet 193 – Praetorian Guards assassinated Roman Emperor Pertinax and sold the throne in an auction to Didius Julianus. 1862 – American Civil War: An invasion of the New Mexico Territory by the Confederate States Army was halted at the Battle of Glorieta Pass. 1910 – Near Martigues, France, French aviator Henri Fabre's Fabre Hydravion became the first seaplane to take off from water under its own power. 1933 – A passenger aboard the Imperial Airways biplane City of Liverpool set a fire on board, causing it to break apart in mid-air and crash. 1979 – British Prime Minister James Callaghan (pictured) was defeated by one vote in a motion of no confidence by the House of Commons after his government struggled to cope with widespread strikes by trade unions during the "Winter of Discontent". More anniversaries: March 27 – March 28 – March 29 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now March 28, 2012 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

The Space Shuttle Atlantis launches to begin the STS-132 mission in May 2010. STS-132 was initially scheduled to be the final flight of Atlantis, but it later flew on STS-135—the last mission of the Space Shuttle program—in July 2011.

Video: NASA

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