1664 – The colony of New Jersey is founded.
1853 – US President Franklin Pierce signs the Gadsden Purchase, buying 29,670 square-miles from Mexico for $10 million (now southern Arizona and New Mexico).
1880 – First performance of “O Canada,” the song that would become the national anthem of Canada.
1894 – Decision to hold modern Olympics every 4 years.
1916 – Mary Pickford becomes the first female film star to get a million dollar contract.
1922 – US football team Chicago Staleys become Chicago Bears.
1938 – 500 ton meteorite lands near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
1947 – Jackie Robinson swipes home for 1st of 19 times in his career.
1949 – “Hopalong Cassidy” becomes 1st network western (NBC)
1961 – “Happiest Girl in the World” closes at Martin Beck NYC after 97 performances.
1964 – FTC rules health warnings must appear on all cigarette packages.
1972 – Wake Island becomes unincorporated territory of US (US Air Force)
1975 – Eastern 727 crashes at JFK Airport NY, kills 133.
1977 – IRS reveals Jimmy Carter paid no taxes in 1976.
1982 – US Supreme Court rules president can’t be sued for actions in office.
1986 – US Senate approves “tax reform”
1992 – Billy Joel gets an honorary diploma from Hicksville High School at 43.
2004 – Capital punishment is declared unconstitutional in New York.
2010 – In the longest match in tennis history, John Isner of the U.S. defeats Nicolas Mahut of France at Wimbledon after 11 hours, 5 minutes of play over three days.
2012 – Female athletes will be allowed to compete in Saudi Arabia at the Olympics for the first time.
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