1788 – Connecticut becomes 5th state to ratify the US constitution.
1793 – 1st hot-air balloon flight in the US lifts off in Philadelphia, piloted by Jean Pierre Blanchard.
1847 – 1st San Francisco newspaper published (California Star)
1861 – Mississippi secedes from the Union (US Civil War)
1894 – New England Telephone and Telegraph installs the first battery-operated telephone switchboard in Lexington, Massachusetts.
1903 – Frank Farrell & Bill Devery purchase AL Baltimore franchise for $18,000 & move to NYC (Yankees)
1928 – Eugene O’Neill’s “Marco Millions” premieres in NYC.
1936 – Semi-automatic rifles adopted by US army.
1951 – “Live After Tomorrow”, 1st film to receive an “X” rating, premieres.
1953 – Bevo Francis, Rio Grande College, scores 116 points in basketball game.
1959 – “Rawhide” with Clint Eastwood premieres on CBS TV.
1967 – Georgia legislature seats Rep. Julian Bond.
1976 – C.W. McCall CB song “Convoy” hit #1 on the country music charts.
1984 – “TV’s Bloopers & Practical Jokes” premieres on NBC TV (Whoops)
1991 – Baseball officially bans Pete Rose from being elected to Hall of Fame.
1991 – UNC’s Dean Smith is 6th to win 700 career coaching basketball games.
2000 – Dan Marino wins his last career NFL game (20-17 vs Seattle)
2002 – Michael Jackson receives the Artist of the Century award at the American music awards.
2007 – Apple Inc. CEO, Steve Jobs announces the iPhone.