What Happened On This Day In History?

1776

Nathan Hale was hanged as a spy by the British during the Revolutionary War.

1789

Congress authorized the office of Postmaster-General.

1792

The French Republic was proclaimed.

1862

President Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, declaring all slaves in rebel states should be free as of Jan. 1, 1863.

1927

Gene Tunney successfully defended his heavyweight boxing title against Jack Dempsey in the famous ''long-count'' fight in Chicago.

1949

The Soviet Union exploded its first atomic bomb.

1958

Sherman Adams, assistant to President Eisenhower, resigned amid charges of improperly using his influence to help an industrialist.

1964

The musical ''Fiddler on the Roof'' opened on Broadway, beginning a run of 3,242 performances.

1969

Willie Mays of the San Francisco Giants hit the 600th home run of his during a game in San Diego. Only two other players - Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron - have hit more home runs than Mays.

1975

Sara Jane Moore failed in an attempt to shoot President Ford outside a San Francisco hotel.

1980

The Persian Gulf conflict between Iran and Iraq erupted into full-scale war.

1988

The government of Canada apologized for the World War II internment of Japanese-Canadians and promised compensation.

1995

Time Warner struck a $7.5 billion deal to buy Turner Broadcasting System Inc.

1989

Songwriter Irving Berlin died in New York City at age 101.

1999

Actor George C. Scott died at his Southern California home at age 71.