Today in history: On March 5, 1770, the Boston Massacre took place as British soldiers who had been taunted by a crowd of colonists opened fire, killing five people. The killing fueled colonists’ outrage in the run-up to the American Revolution. Also on this date: In 1856, a major fire destroyed Covent Garden’s royal theater and opera house in London, marking the second time fire destroyed a theater on the site since 1808. (The theater was rebuilt and has since undergone major reconstruction