1607 – Jamestown expedition makes first landing in America at a place named Cape Henry, in what would become Virginia, but they quickly depart for a better site.
1859 – Dan Sickles is acquitted of murder on grounds of temporary insanity – 1st time this defense used successfully in the US.
1865 – Confederate General J.E. Johnston surrenders Army of Tennessee, at Durham, North Carolina.
1887 – Huntsville Electric Co forms to sell electricity.
1900 – American League opener in Cleveland draws 6,500.
1920 – Harlow Shapley and Heber C. Curtis hold “great debate” on the nature of nebulae, galaxies and size of the universe at US National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C.
1944 – 1st B-29 attacked by Japanese fighters, one fighter shot down.
1952 – US minesweeper Hobson rams aircraft carrier Wasp, kills 176.
1954 – Nationwide test of Salk anti-polio vaccine begins.
1956 – First modern container ship, the Ideal X, leaves Port Newark, New Jersey for Houston, Texas.
1962 – 1st Lockheed A-12 flies.
1971 – San Francisco lightship replaced by automatic buoy.
1977 – Opening of Studio 54 in New York, N.Y.
1980 – Iran begins scattering US hostages from US Embassy.
1884 – President Reagan visits China.
1992 – Ozzie Smith steals his 500th base.
1995 – Coors Field, opens in Denver…Rockies beat Mets 11-9 in 14 innings.
2012 – Indonesia suspends imports of American beef after a confirmed case of mad cow disease in California.
2018 – Serial killer “Golden State Killer” identified after 40 years as a former police officer, responsible for 12 killings, 50 rapes in California.
About Author
