On December 10, 1748, Frederick County was officially separated from Prince George's County. It extended from Georgetown to what is today Garrett County. On December 10, 1820, Samuel Tyler, who became the first surgeon to adopt anesthetics in surgery, was born in Frederick. He died there on July 25, 1856. On December 10, 1887, James H. Gambrill, Jr., shot and killed Nelson Stanton, 42, whom he caught stealing coal from the rear of his father's Frederick Flouring Mill on South Carroll Street. Gambrill later testified that it was an accident. On December 10, 1892, Eleanor M. Johnson, who founded The Weekly Reader for America's school children, was born in Washington County. After her retirement she lived on Record Street at the corner of Second Street, where Judge Glenn H. Worthington lived for many years. She died October 8, 1987. On December 10, 1907, the People's Fire Insurance Company of Frederick Maryland was incorporated. On December 10, 1910, The Evening Post began publication in Frederick. It later changed to a morning edition and was, in 1916, purchased by The Great Southern Printing and Manufacturing Company, the publishers of The News. On December 10, 1940, the first formal steps were taken to beatify Mother Elizabeth Ann Seton. On December 10, 1941, Lt. Col. Elmer F. Munshower, later commander of the Maryland State Police and an alderman and mayor of Frederick, was named commander of A. P. Hill Military Reservation near Bowling Green, VA. On December 10, 2006, Robert R. Davila, of New Market, was selected by the board of trustees at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., as the interim president for 24 months. He took office on January 2, 2007. If anyone can add information to these History Moments, or would like to suggest an item for another calendar day, please contact me privately. John W. Ashbury [email protected]