1789 – The United States Department of War first established a regular army with a strength of several hundred men.

1829 – The Metropolitan Police of London, later also known as the Met, was founded.

1885 – The first practical public electric tramway in the world opened in Blackpool, England.

1907 – The cornerstone was laid at the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul (better known as Washington National Cathedral) in Washington, D.C.

1915 – First transcontinental radio telephone message sent by U.S. naval radio station at Arlington, Virginia, to naval radio station at Mare Island, San Francisco.

1916 – American oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller became the world’s first billionaire.

1923 – The First American Track & Field championships for women were held.

1927 – Telephone service began between US & Mexico.

1936 – Radio was used for first time for a presidential campaign.

1940 – Two Royal Air Force airplanes (Avro Ansons) collided in mid-air over New South Wales, Australia, remained locked together, then landed safely.

1949 – The Communist Party of China wrote the Common Programme for the future People’s Republic of China.

1950 – Telephone Answering Machine was created by Bell Laboratories.

1953 – “Milton Berle Show” premiered on NBC.

1957 – The Kyshtym disaster was the third-worst nuclear accident ever recorded.

1957 – Buddy Holly & Crickets released second single: “Oh Boy!”/”Not Fade Away”.

1958 – “Summertime Blues” by Eddie Cochran peaked at #8 in US; #18 in UK.

1959 – Little Anthony & the Imperials recorded “Shimmy Shimmy Ko Ko Bop”.

1960 – “Tell Laura I Love Her” by Ricky Valance peaked at #1 in UK.

1961 – Bob Dylan’s first recording session.  He played backup harmonica for Caroline Hester.

1962 – “Alley Cat” by Bent Fabric & His Piano peaked at #7.

1962 – “Green Onions” by Booker T & MG’s peaked at #3.

1962 – President John F. Kennedy authorized the use of federal troops to integrate the University of Mississippi.

1963 – Rolling Stones first tour.  They were the opening act for Bo Diddley and the Everly Brothers.

1966 – The Chevrolet Camaro, originally named Panther, was introduced.

1967 – Gladys Knight & Pips released “I Heard it Through the Grapevine”.

1969 – Jackie DeShannon got a Gold Record for “Put a Little Love in Your Heart”.

1971 – Ron Hunt was hit by a pitch for record 50th time in a season.

1972 – Robert McNamara, former US Secretary of Defense, was almost thrown overboard on a ferry by an artist wanting to confront him on his role in escalating US involvement in the Vietnam war.  McNamara did not press charges against the artist.

1973 – “We’re An American Band” by Grand Funk peaked at #1.

1976 – TV show “Alice” debuts on CBS.

1976 – While attempting to shoot soda bottles, Jerry Lee Lewis hit his bass player Norman Owens twice in the chest.

1977 – James Brown’s band walked out claiming they were underpaid & overworked.

1979 – “Bad Case Of Loving You” by Robert Palmer peaked at #14.

1979 – “Lonesome Loser” by Little River Band peaked at #6.

1979 – “Message In A Bottle” by Police peaked at #1 in UK.

1982 -First broadcast of comedy “Cheers” on NBC starring Ted Danson and Shelley Long.

1984  – “Drive” by Cars peaked at #3.

1984 – “Let’s Go Crazy” by Prince & Revolution peaked at #1.

1985 – “MacGyver” starring Richard Dean Anderson, debuted on ABC.

1987 – “Didn’t We Almost Have It All,” by Whitney Houston hit #1.

1988 – NASA launched STS-26, the first mission since the Challenger disaster.

1989 – Zsa Zsa Gabor was convicted of slapping a police officer in Beverly Hills.

1990 – “Love & Affection” by Nelson peaked at #1 on pop singles chart.

1990 – Construction of the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul (better known as Washington National Cathedral) was completed in Washington, D.C.  Construction began in 1907.  (see above)

2004 – The asteroid 4179 Toutatis passed within four lunar distances of Earth.

2004 – Burt Rutan’s Ansari SpaceShipOne performed a successful spaceflight, the first of two required to win the Ansari X Prize.

2006 – A Boeing 737 and an Embraer 600 collided in mid-air.  The accident killed 154 people and triggered a Brazilian aviation crisis.

2007 – Calder Hall, the world’s first commercial nuclear power station, was demolished in a controlled explosion.

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