Events, Births and Deaths Happening on this Date

1775

The Revolutionary War Battle of Bunker Hill took place near Boston.

1789

The Third Estate in France declared itself a national assembly, and undertook to frame a constitution.

1856

The Republican Party opened its first convention, in Philadelphia.

1885

The Statue of Liberty arrived in New York City aboard the French ship Isere.

1928

Amelia Earhart embarked on the first trans-Atlantic flight by a woman. She flew from Newfoundland to Wales in about 21 hours.

1940

France asked Germany for terms of surrender in World War II.

1944

The republic of Iceland was established.

1963

The Supreme Court struck down rules requiring the recitation of the Lord's Prayer or reading of Biblical verses in public schools.

1972

President Nixon's eventual downfall began with the arrest of five burglars inside Democratic national headquarters in Washington's Watergate complex.

1994

After leading police on a slow-speed chase on Southern California freeways, O.J. Simpson was arrested and charged with murder in the slayings of his ex-wife, Nicole, and her friend Ronald Goldman. Simpson was later acquitted in a criminal trial, but held

1986

Singer Kate Smith died in Raleigh, N.C., at age 79.

1987

Baseball manager Dick Howser died at age 51 after a struggle against brain cancer.