EVENTS
- 1776 – Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense.
- 1861 – American Civil War: Florida secedes from the United States.
- 1863 – The world’s first underground railway service opened in London, the Metropolitan line between Paddington and Farringdon.
- 1870 – John D. Rockefeller incorporates Standard Oil.
- 1878 – An Amendment granting women the right to vote was introduced in Congress by Senator A.A. Sargent of California. The amendment didn’t pass until 1920, forty-two years later.
- 1912 – The flying boat airplane, invented by Glenn Curtiss, made its first flight at Hammondsport, New York.
- 1920 – League of Nations holds its first meeting.
- 1920 – The Treaty of Versailles takes effect. Although a ceasefire had been in place since November 11, 1918, World War I officially ended with the Treaty of Versailles.
- 1929 – The first Adventures of Tintin comic book is published. Hergé’s books became hugely popular in Europe and the rest of the world.
- 1946 – The first meeting of the United Nations General Assembly took place in London with delegates from 51 countries. The U.N. superseded its predecessor, the League of Nations.
- 1984 – The U.S. and Vatican established full diplomatic relations after a break of 116 years.
BIRTHDAYS
- 1738 – Ethan Allen (US Revolutionary War)
- 1944 – Frank Sinatra (Singer)
- 1945 – Rod Stewart (Singer)
- 1949 – George Foreman (Boxer)
- 1953 – Pat Benatar (Singer)
- 1960 – Brian Cowen (Irish politician, 12th Taoiseach of Ireland)
- 1987 – César Cielo (Brazilian swimmer)
DEATHS
- 1778 – Carl Linnaeus (Swedish botanist, physician, zoologist)
- 1862 – Samuel Colt (American inventor, industrialist, founded the Colt’s Manufacturing Company)
- 1971 – Coco Chanel (French fashion designer, founded the Chanel Company)
- 1976 – Howlin’ Wolf (American singer-songwriter, musician)
- 2016 – David Bowie (English singer-songwriter, producer, actor)