1633 – The Holy Office in Rome forces Galileo Galilei to recant his view that the Sun, not the Earth, is the center of the Universe in the form he presented it in, after heated controversy.
1783 – A poisonous cloud caused by the eruption of the Laki volcano in Iceland reaches Le Havre in France.
1807 – In the Chesapeake-Leopard Affair, the British warship HMS Leopard attacks and boards the American frigate USS Chesapeake.
1839 – Cherokee leaders Major Ridge, John Ridge, and Elias Boudinot are assassinated for signing the Treaty of New Echota, which had resulted in the Trail of Tears.
1870 – US Congress created the United States Department of Justice
1898 – Spanish-American War: United States Marines land in Cuba.
1907 – The London Underground’s Charing Cross, Euston and Hampstead Railway opens.
1942 – Pledge of Allegiance formally adopted by Congress
1969 – The Cuyahoga River catches fire in Cleveland, Ohio, drawing national attention to water pollution, and spurring the passing of the Clean Water Act and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency.
1990 – Checkpoint Charlie is dismantled in Berlin.
Births
916 – Sayf al-Dawla, Syrian Emir of Aleppo (d. 967)
1757 – George Vancouver, English lieutenant and explorer (d. 1798)
1903 – John Dillinger, American bank robber (d. 1934)
1906 – Anne Morrow Lindbergh, American pilot and author (d. 2001)
1921 – Joseph Papp, American director and producer (d. 1991)
1922 – Bill Blass, American fashion designer, (d. 2002)
1949 – Meryl Streep, American actress and singer
Deaths
1276 – Pope Innocent V (b. 1225)
1961 – Maria of Yugoslavia (b. 1900)
1965 – David O. Selznick, American screenwriter and producer (b. 1902)
1969 – Judy Garland, American actress and singer (b. 1922)
1987 – Fred Astaire, American actor, singer, and dancer (b. 1899)
1993 – Pat Nixon, 44th First Lady of the United States (b. 1912)
2008 – George Carlin, American comedian, actor, and author (b. 1937)