Events, Births and Deaths Happening on this Date

1492

The leader of the last Arab stronghold in Spain surrendered to Spanish forces loyal to King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella I.

1788

Georgia became the fourth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.

1797

Albany became the capital of New York state, replacing New York City.

1811

Senator Timothy Pickering, a Federalist from Massachusetts, became the first senator to be censured. Pickering was accused of violating congressional law by publicly revealing secret documents communicated by the president to the Senate.

1900

Secretary of State John Hay announced the Open Door Policy to prompt trade with China.

1905

Japanese General Nogi received from Russian Gen. Stoessel at 9 o'clock P.M. a letter formally offering to surrender, ending the Russo-Japanese War.

1929

The United States and Canada reached agreement on joint action to preserve Niagara Falls.

1935

Bruno Hauptmann went on trial in Flemington, N.J., on charges of kidnapping and murdering the infant son of Charles and Anne Lindbergh. (Found guilty, Hauptmann was executed.)

1942

The Philippine capital of Manila was captured by Japanese forces during World War II.

1959

The Soviets launch Luna I, the first spacecraft bound for the moon.

1960

Sen. John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts announced his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination.

1965

The New York Jets signed University of Alabama quarterback Joe Namath for a reported $400,000.

1965

Indonesia withdrew from the United Nations - the first member to do so.

1972

Radio and television advertising of cigarettes ends as a result of legislation passed by the U.S. Congress.

1974

President Nixon signed legislation requiring states to limit highway speeds to 55 mph. (Federal speed limits were abolished in 1995.)

1983

The musical play ''Annie,'' based on the ''Little Orphan Annie'' comic strip, closed on Broadway after a run of 2,377 performances.

1991

Sharon Pratt Dixon was sworn in as mayor of Washington, D.C., becoming the first black woman to head a city of Washington's size and prominence.

1993

Leaders of the three warring factions in Bosnia meet to discuss a peace plan aimed at ending nine months of fighting in the country.

1996

The first convoy of American combat troops arrives in Northern Bosnia to try to keep the peace between Bosnian Serbs and Muslims.

1727

James Wolfe, British general.

1752

Philip Freneau, American poet.

1920

Isaac Asimov, Russian-born American science fiction writer, author of almost 500 books.

1922

Renata Tebaldi, Italian dramatic soprano.

1936

Roger Miller, American singer and songwriter.

1938

David Bailey, English photographer

1939

Jim Bakker, disgraced American televangelist.

1963

Dick Powell, American singer, actor, producer, and director.

1974

Tex Ritter, US stage and screen singing cowboy.