Events, Births and Deaths Happening on this Date

1794

President Washington approved a measure adding two stars and two stripes to the American flag, following the admission of Vermont and Kentucky to the union.

1854

Anthony Faas of Pennsylvania patents the accordion.

1893

Britain's Independent Labor Party (a precursor to the current Labor Party) held its first meeting. It was formed by Keir Hardie.

1910

Opera was broadcast on the radio for the first time - Enrico Caruso singing from the stage of New York's Metropolitan Opera House.

1930

The comic strip "Mickey Mouse" debuts in American newspapers.

1931

The bridge connecting New York and New Jersey was named the George Washington Memorial Bridge.

1955

Chase National and the Bank of Manhattan agreed to merge, resulting in the second largest U.S. bank.

1964

Capitol Records released the Beatles' first single in the USA; "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" sold one million copies in the first three weeks.

1964

Hindu-Muslim rioting breaks out in the Indian city of Calcutta resulting in the deaths of more than 100 people.

1966

Robert C. Weaver became the first black Cabinet member as he was appointed Secretary of Housing and Urban Development by President Johnson.

1972

Lieutenant Colonel I K Acheampong, commander of Ghana's first army brigade seizes control of Ghana while the prime minister is in London for medical treatment.

1982

An Air Florida 737 crashed into the capital's 14th Street Bridge after takeoff and fell into the Potomac River, killing 78 people.

1986

The Wall Street Journal prints a photograph on the cover for the very first time in its history.

1989

New York City subway gunman Bernhard H. Goetz was sentenced to one year in prison for possessing an unlicensed gun that he used to shoot four youths he said were about to rob him. He was freed the following September.

1990

Douglas Wilder of Virginia became the nation's first elected black governor as he took the oath of office in Richmond.

1991

Around 13 people are killed and at least 140 injured as Soviet troops continue to attack Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania.

1992

Japan apologized for forcing tens of thousands of Korean women to serve as sex slaves for Japanese soldiers during World War II.

1999

Michael Jordan announced his retirement from the Chicago Bulls.

2000

Microsoft chairman Bill Gates stepped aside as chief executive and promotedcompany president Steve Ballmer to the position.

2001

More than 1,000 people are feared dead after an earthquake strikes the Central American city of San Salvador.

1808

Salmon P. Chase, U.S. Treasury Secretary, sixth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

1832

Horatio Alger, American author.

1885

Alfred Fuller, American businessman, founder of Fuller Brush Company.

1906

Sophie Tucker, American vaudeville singer.

1926

Michael Bond, English author, creator of the Paddington Bear stories.

1966

Mike Tyson, boxer.

1864

Composer Stephen Foster died in a New York City hospital.

1941

Novelist James Joyce died in Zurich, Switzerland.

1962

Comedian Ernie Kovacs died in a car crash in west Los Angeles.

1978

Former Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey died in Waverly, Minn., at age 66.