1790 – US Patent system forms.
1849 – Safety pin patented by Walter Hunt (NYC); sold rights for $400.
1869 – Congress increases number of Supreme Court judges from 7 to 9.
1912 – RMS Titanic sets sail from Southampton for her maiden (and final) voyage.
1916 – The Professional Golfers Association of America (PGA) is founded in New York City.
1930 – Thiokol synthetic rubber 1st produced in Yarkley, New Jersey.
1938 – NY makes syphilis test mandatory in order to get a marriage license.
1945 – US troops land on Tsugen Shima Okinawa.
1947 – Jackie Robinson becomes first black player of the 20th century to sign a MLB contract; Brooklyn GM, Branch Rickey announces Dodgers had bought Robinson’s contract from Montreal Royals.
1949 – 13th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Sam Snead wins his first of 3 green jackets by 3 strokes over Johnny Bulla and Lloyd Mangum.
1957 – “12 Angry Men”, directed by Sidney Lumet, starring Henry Fonda and Lee J. Cobb, is released.
1960 – Senate passes landmark Civil Rights Bill.
1968 – 40th Academy Awards: “In the Heat of the Night”, Rod Steiger & Katherine Hepburn win.
1970 – Paul McCartney officially announces the split of The Beatles.
1976 – Cleveland Cavaliers win their 1st NBA Central Division title.
1984 – Damaged Solar Max satellite snared by Challenger shuttle.
1989 – Intel corp announces shipment of 80-486 chip.
1998 – NYC bans smoking in all restaurants that seat 35 or more.
2012 – Apple Inc claims a value of $600 billion making it the largest company by market capitalization in the world.
2018 – Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg begins testifying before US Congress about data use and security.