Events, Births and Deaths Happening on this Date

1796

Napoleon Bonaparte, the future emperor of France, married Josephine de Beauharnais. The couple divorced in 1809.

1862

During the Civil War, the ironclads Monitor and Virginia (formerly Merrimac) clashed for five hours to a draw at Hampton Roads, Va.

1916

Mexican raiders led by Pancho Villa attacked Columbus, N.M., killing more than a dozen people.

1933

Congress, called into special session by President Roosevelt, began its 100 days of enacting New Deal legislation.

1945

During World War II, U.S. B29 bombers launched incendiary bomb attacks against Japan, causing widespread devastation.

1954

CBS newsman Edward R. Murrow critically reviewed Wisconsin Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy's anti-Communism campaign on "See It Now."

1975

Work began on the Alaskan oil pipeline.

1977

About a dozen armed Hanafi Muslims invaded three buildings in Washington D.C., killing one person and taking more than 130 hostages. The siege ended two days later.

1989

The Senate rejected President Bush's nomination of John Tower to be defense secretary by a vote of 53-47.

1990

Dr. Antonia Novello was sworn in as surgeon general, becoming the first woman and the first Hispanic to hold the job.

1993

Rodney King testified at the federal trial of four Los Angeles police officers accused of violating his civil rights, saying he'd been "attacked" by the defendants.

1995

Los Angeles police detective Mark Fuhrman took the stand at the O.J. Simpson murder trial, denying ever meeting a woman who had accused him of making racist remarks.

2000

John McCain suspended his presidential campaign, conceding the Republicannomination to George W. Bush. Bill Bradley ended his presidential bid, concedingthe Democratic nomination to Vice President Al Gore.

1992

Former Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin died in Tel Aviv at age 78.

1996

Comedian George Burns died in Beverly Hills, Calif., just weeks after turning 100.

1997

Gangsta rapper The Notorious B.I.G., whose real name was Christopher Wallace, was killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles. He was 24.