On This Day: Tuesday May 24, 2005 This is the 144th day of the year, with 221 days remaining in 2005. Fact of the Day: Geography Bee In the last National Geographic Literacy Survey, about 11 percent of 18-to-24-year-old citizens of the U.S. could not even locate the U.S. on a map. The Pacific Ocean's location was a mystery to 29 percent; Japan, to 58 percent; France, to 65 percent; and the United Kingdom, to 69 percent. More young U.S. citizens in the study knew that the island featured in the TV show "Survivor" was in the South Pacific than could find Israel. Each year thousands of schools in the U.S. participate in the National Geographic Bee using materials prepared by the National Geographic Society. The contest is designed to encourage teachers to include geography in their classrooms, spark student interest in the subject, and increase public awareness about geography. Holidays Feast day of St David of Scotland, St Vincent of Lerins, Saints Donatian and Rogation, and St Nicetas of Pereaslav. Eritrea: Independence Day. Belize: Commonwealth Day. Bulgaria: Culture Day. Ecuador: Battle of Pichincha. Events 1543 - Nicolaus Copernicus published proof of a Sun-centered planetary system. 1624 - After years of unprofitable operation, Virginia's charter is revoked and it becomes a royal colony. 1689 - English Parliament passes the Act of Toleration, protecting Protestants; Roman Catholics are specifically excluded. 1738 - The Methodist Church was established. 1830 - The first passenger railroad in the US began service between Baltimore and Elliott's Mills, Maryland. 1844 - Samuel F.B. Morse transmitted the message, "What hath God wrought!" from Washington to Baltimore as he formally opened America's first telegraph line. 1883 - The Brooklyn Bridge, linking Brooklyn and Manhattan, was opened. It took 14 years to construct; 27 people died working on it. 1899 - W. T. McCullough of Boston opened the first public garage. 1958 - United Press International was formed through a merger of the United Press and the International News Service. 1976 - Britain and France started transatlantic Concorde service to Washington. 1994 - Four men convicted of bombing New York's World Trade Center were each sentenced to 240 years in prison. 2000 - Israeli troops pulled out unilaterally from south Lebanon, ending 18 years of occupation. Births 1686 - Gabriel Daniel Fahrenheit, German physicist, the first to use mercury in thermometers. 1743 - Jean-Paul Marat, French revolutionary. 1819 - Queen Victoria of United Kingdom (1837-1901) and empress of India (1876-1901). 1895 - Samuel I. Newhouse, publishing and broadcasting magnate.