Events, Births and Deaths Happening on this Date

1498

During his third voyage to the Western Hemisphere, Christopher Columbus arrived at the island of Trinidad.

1777

The Marquis de Lafayette, a 19-year-old French nobleman, was made a major-general in the American Continental Army

1790

The first U.S. patent was issued to Samuel Hopkins of Vermont. Mr. Hopkins did not get Patent #1 as thousands of patents were issued before someone came up with the idea to number them. The inventor patented a process for making potash and pearl ashes.

1792

Construction started with the laying of the cornerstone in the first building to be used solely as a U.S. Government building. It was the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia.

1845

The French Army introduced the saxophone to its military band. The musical instrument was the invention of Adolphe Sax of Belgium.

1919

Germany's Weimar Constitution was adopted.

1948

President Truman helped dedicate New York International Airport (later John F. Kennedy International Airport) at Idlewild Field.

1955

Marilyn Bell of Toronto, Canada, at age 17, became the youngest person to swim the English Channel.

1961

The first tie in All-Star Game history was recorded as the second All-Star Game of the year (there were two a year back then) was stopped in the 9th inning due to rain at Boston's Fenway Park.

1964

The American space probe Ranger 7 transmitted pictures of the moon's surface.

1971

The first men to ride in a vehicle on the moon did so in the LRV (lunar rover vehicle). The lunar dune buggy carried Apollo 15 astronauts David R. Scott and James B. Irwin for five miles on the lunar surface.

1972

Democratic vice-presidential candidate Thomas Eagleton withdrew from the ticket with George McGovern following disclosures Eagleton had once undergone psychiatric treatment.

1974

One of President Nixon's main men, John Erlichman was sentenced to prison for his role in the break-in at the office of Daniel Ellsberg's psychiatrist. Ellsberg was the Pentagon consultant who leaked the "Pentagon Papers".

1989

A pro-Iranian group in Lebanon released a grisly videotape purportedly showing the hanged body of American hostage William R. Higgins.

1990

Pitcher Nolan Ryan of the Texas Rangers became the 20th major leaguer to win 300 games as he led his team to victory over the Milwaukee Brewers 11-3.

1995

The Walt Disney Company agreed to acquire Capital Cities-ABC Inc. in a $19 billion deal.

1997

New York City police seized five bombs believed bound for terrorist attacks on subways.

1556

St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, the Jesuit order of Catholic priests and brothers, died in Rome.

1875

Andrew Johnson, the 17th president of the United States, died in Carter Station, Tenn., at age 66.

1953

Sen. Robert A. Taft of Ohio, known as ''Mr. Republican,'' died in New York at age 63.

1981

The leader of Panama, Gen. Omar Torrijos, was killed in a plane crash.