1839 – Steam shovel patented by William Otis, Philadelphia.
1868 – US House of Representatives vote 126 to 47 to impeach President Andrew Johnson.
1888 – Louisville, Kentucky, becomes 1st government in US to adopt Australian ballot (i.e. secret ballot on standard voting forms)
1909 – The Hudson Motor Car Company is founded.
1921 – 1st transcontinental flight in 24 hours flying time arrives in Florida.
1938 – DuPont begins commercial production of nylon toothbrush bristles.
1943 – Texas League (baseball) announces it will quit for the duration of WW II.
1951 – Men’s Figure Skating Championship in Milan won by Richard Button of USA.
1955 – 12th Golden Gloves: “On the Waterfront”, Marlon Brando, & Judy Garland win.
1961 – Explorer (10) fails to reach Earth orbit.
1963 – 5th Daytona 500: Tiny Lund driving for Wood Brothers Racing, wins on 4 pit stops as first 10 laps run under caution flag because of rain.
1964 – “My Heart Skips a Beat” single release by Buck Owens (Billboard #1 U.S. Hot Country Singles 1964)
1968 – US troops reconquer Hue Vietnam.
1977 – US President Jimmy Carter announces US foreign aid will consider human rights.
1980 – US ice hockey team clinches gold medal with 4-2 win over Finland at the Lake Placid Winter Olympics; comes after 4-3 “Miracle on Ice” victory against hot favorite Soviet Union.
1986 – Texas Air buys Eastern Airlines for $676 million.
1989 – US Boeing 747 loses parts of roof over Pacific, 9 die.
1996 – Cuba downs 2 US planes.
2002 – IXX Winter Olympics close in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States.
2013 – 55th Daytona 500: Jimmie Johnson wins 2nd Great American Race: Danica Patrick first female to start from pole position, also best ever finish by a woman at Daytona (8th).