Events, Births and Deaths Happening on this Date

1541

Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto reached the Mississippi River.

1794

Antoine Lavoisier, the father of modern chemistry, was executed on the guillotine during France's Reign of Terror.

1846

The first major battle of the Mexican War was fought at Palo Alto, Texas, resulting in victory for Gen. Zachary Taylor's forces.

1886

Atlanta pharmacist John Styth Pemberton invented the flavor syrup for Coca-Cola.

1944

The first ''eye bank'' was established, in New York City.

1945

President Truman announced in a radio address that World War II had ended in Europe.

1958

Vice President Nixon was shoved, stoned, booed and spat upon by anti-American protesters in Lima, Peru.

1970

Construction workers broke up an anti-war protest on New York City's Wall Street.

1973

Militant American Indians who had held the South Dakota hamlet of Wounded Knee for 10 weeks surrendered.

1978

David R. Berkowitz pleaded guilty in a Brooklyn courtroom to the ''Son of Sam'' killings that had terrified New Yorkers.

1987

Gary Hart, dogged by questions about his personal life and his relationship with Miami model Donna Rice, withdrew from the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.

1999

The Citadel, South Carolina's formerly all-male military school, graduated its first female cadet, Nancy Ruth Mace.

1884

The 33rd president of the United States, Harry S. Truman, was born near Lamar, Mo.