March 21, 1656

Dublin-born cleric and scholar Archbishop James Ussher died on this day in 1656. His treatise on chronology–based on an intricate correlation of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean history, combined with Holy texts–was held in high regard for some time after his death. In his chronology, Ussher concluded that the first day of creation was Sunday, October 23, 4004 BC, and that Adam and Eve fell from grace on Monday, November 10, 4004 BC (making them fourteen days old at the time of their exile). He also predicted on which day the world would end, even though the Bible expressly prohibits such practices. Fortunately, November 4, 1996 passed without any major cosmic disturbances, aside from the worldwide release of Michael Jackson single, “Stranger in Moscow.”