1719 – Daniel Defoe publishes “Robinson Crusoe”
1861 – The Union Army arrives to reinforce Washington, D.C. (US Civil War)
1875 – Latest date for measurable snow in NYC (3″)
1898 – Spanish-American War: The United States declares state of war on Spain effective from 21st April.
1901 – New York becomes 1st state requiring automobile license plates ($1 fee)
1928 – Buddy, a German Shepherd, becomes 1st guide dog for a US citizen Morris Frank.
1933 – US & Canada drop Gold Standard.
1945 – 45 countries convene UN Conference on Intl Organization in San Francisco.
1953 – Francis Crick and James Watson’s discovery of the double helix structure of DNA is published in “Nature” magazine.
1961 – Robert Noyce patents integrated circuit.
1967 – Abortion legalized in Colorado.
1970 – Freda Payne releases “Band of Gold”
1974 – NFL moves goal posts & adopts sudden-death playoff.
1978 – Supreme Court rules pension plans can’t require women to pay more.
1980 – Announcement of US hostage rescue bungle in Iran.
1985 – Roger Miller’s musical “Big River” opens at Eugene O”Neill Theater NYC for 1005 performances.
1994 – Mexican businessman & billionaire Angel Losada kidnapped.
1994 – 14″ of snow in Southern California.
1997 – Seattle Mariner Ken Griffey Jr. hits his 250th HR.
2009 – 2009 NFL Draft: Mathew Stafford from University of Georgia first pick by Detroit Lions.