1650s

• 1652: FIRST TRAFFIC LAW IN “U.S.” PASSED, NEW AMSTERDAM (N.Y.C.)

1770s

• 1778: LIBERTY BELL RETURNED FROM ALLENTOWN TO PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA

1820s

• DIED 1829: ENGLISH CHEMIST JAMES SMITHSON DIED WILLING $550,000 TO THE US FOR “THE INCREASE AND DIFFUSION OF KNOWLEDGE AMONG MEN.” HIS BEQUEST RESULTED IN THE CREATION OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION IN WASHINGTON, DC. SMITHSON NEVER VISITED THE INSTITUTION OR THE UNITED STATES.

1840s

• DIED 1844: JOSEPH SMITH (RELIGIOUS LEADER; ORGANIZED THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS)

1850s

• BORN 1859: MILDRED J. HILL (COMPOSER OF SONG “HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU”)

1880s

• BORN 1880: HELEN KELLER (AUTHOR, LECTURER)

1920s

• BORN 1927: BOB KEESHAN (CAPTAIN KANGAROO)

1930s

• BORN 1930: ROSS PEROT (BUSINESSMAN)

1940s

• 1941: FIRST FLIGHT OF XB-19 BOMBER
• BORN 1949: VERA WANG (DESIGNER)

1950s

• 1955: FIRST STATE LAW REQUIRING THAT CARS BE EQUIPPED WITH SEAT BELTS PASSED IN ILLINOIS

1960s

• 1960: CHLOROPHYLL-A FIRST SYNTHESIZED, CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS
• 1962: JOSEPH WALKER FLEW X-15 AT MACH 5.92 (4,104 MPH)
• BORN 1966: J. J. ABRAMS (TELEVISION WRITER & PRODUCER)
• 1967: KMART TRADEMARK REGISTERED

1970s

• BORN 1975: TOBEY MAGUIRE (ACTOR)
• 1975: ENTERTAINMENT DUO SONNY AND CHER CALLED IT QUITS AS HUSBAND AND WIFE (DIVORCE FINAL THIS DAY)
• 1979: MUHAMMAD ALI ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT FROM BOXING

1980s

• 1980: BILL PASSED MAKING O CANADA NATIONAL ANTHEM OF CANADA
• BORN 1986: DRAKE BELL (ACTOR)

1990s

• BORN 1991: MADYLIN SWEETEN (ACTRESS)

2000s

• DIED 2001: JACK LEMMON (ACTOR)
• DIED 2002: JOHN ENTWISTLE (MUSICIAN)
• DIED 2005: SHELBY FOOTE (CIVIL WAR HISTORIAN AND NOVELIST )

2010s

• DIED 2012: DON GRADY (ACTOR)
• DIED 2017: MICHAEL BOND (CHILDREN’S WRITER)

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