A U.S. patent for the first practical pipe wrench - the Stillson wrench - was issued to Daniel C. Stillson of Somerville, Mass. (No. 184,993). In 1869, he had whittled a model out of wood, which he showed to his boss at the Walworth Company. He recognised the wooden pattern showed a new type of pipe wrench, superior to anything else in use at that time, and badly needed in the growing pipe industry. Stillson was instructed to test one built in steel. The test convinced the company owner that the concept was sound. Stillson obtained a patent, and offered to sell the patent for a small outright payment. Instead, the owner graciously advised Stillson accept royalties instead. Stillson thus earned far more in his lifetime.

Thousands of Russians gathered in the streets of Moscow to protest against Prime Minister Putin after accusations of an unfair parliamentary election slanted in Putin's favor. The unrest comes soon after Putin announced he would run for president in the next election. Putin had held the presidency from 2000 until 2008, but was not allowed to run for a third consecutive term.