On this day, May 4, in 1855,

William Walker, a US citizen, set sail from San Francisco with a small army intending to conquer Latin America. After defeating the Nicaraguan national army, Walker took control of the country and proclaimed himself President. Guided by his white supremacist beliefs, Walker tried to conquer all of Central America, but military resistance from Central American governments and his US business rivals led to his surrender to the US Navy. He was tried and acquitted on charges of starting an illegal war. During his last attempt to return to Central America, Walker was caught and executed by the government of Honduras. Talk about an inflated sense of entitlement!