Today in 1453, Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Turks, marking the end of the Byzantine Empire.
Today in 1765, Patrick Henry denounced the Stamp Act before Virginia’s House of Burgesses.
Today in 1790, Rhode Island became the 13th original colony to ratify the United States Constitution.
Today in 1848, Wisconsin became the 30th state of the union.
Today in 1912, the editor of the “Ladies Home Journal,” Mr. Edward Bok, fired 15 women when he caught them dancing the Turkey Trot during their lunch hour.
Today in 1917, the 35th president of the United States, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, was born in Brookline, Massachusetts.
Today in 1919, Albert Einstein's Theory of Relativity (that when light passes a large body, gravity will bend the rays) was confirmed by Arthur Eddington's expedition to photograph a solar eclipse on island of Principe, West Africa.
Today in 1942, legendary actor John Barrymore died in Hollywood at the age of 60.
Today in 1942, Bing Crosby recorded the Christmas classic, "White Christmas." It became the biggest selling single of all time.
Today in 1943, Norman Rockwell’s portrait of “Rosie the Riveter” appeared on the cover of “The Saturday Evening Post.” A fun fact? The model for Rockwell’s Rosie, was Mary Doyle Keefe.
Today in 1951, pilot C. F. Blair became the first man to fly over the North Pole in a single engine plane.
Today in 1953, Mount Everest was conquered as Sir Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tensing Norkay of Nepal – they were the first climbers to reach the summit.
Today in 1954, Pope Pius X was canonized as a saint. As posthumous proof of his holiness, Pius X's coffin was exhumed and was taken to the Chapel of the Holy Crucifix in St. Peter's Basilica for the canonical examination on 19 May 1944. Upon opening the coffin, the examiners found the body of Pius X remarkably well preserved, despite the fact that he had died 30 years before and had directed that he not be embalmed.
Today in 1961, food stamps were first issued in the United States.
Today in 1962, Buck (John) O’Neil became the first Black coach in major-league baseball. He accepted the job with the Chicago Cubs. O’Neil had previously been a scout with the Cubs organization.
Today in 1963, the film, "Hud," starring Paul Newman, Patricia Neal, Melvyn Douglas and Brandon de Wilde, hit the silver screen. On the same day, the first James Bond flick, "Dr. No," starring Sean Connery and Ursula Andress, opened in theaters nationwide.
Today in 1965, Ralph Boston set a world record in the long jump at 27-feet and a ½ inch, at a meet held in Modesto, California.
Today in 1973, Tom Bradley became the first Black mayor of Los Angeles.
Today in 1974, "The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour" last aired on CBS-TV.
Today in 1977, Janet Guthrie became the first woman to race in the Indianapolis 500 – she finished in 29th place (the winner was A.J. Foyt).
Today in 1978, the price of postage stamps was raised from 13 cents to 15 cents.
Today in 1987, Michael Jackson attempted to buy Elephant Man's remains. The issue? They didn’t actually exist.
Today in 1988, President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev opened their historic summit in Moscow.
Today in 1992, the film, "Sister Act," starring Whoopi Goldberg, opened in theaters nationwide.
Today in 1995, the last three bodies entombed in the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City were recovered.
Today in 1996, President Clinton's former business partners in the Whitewater land deal, James and Susan McDougal, and Arkansas Governor Jim Guy Tucker, were convicted of fraud.
Today in 1997, in closing arguments, Timothy McVeigh's attorney urged jurors not to be swayed by sympathy for the Oklahoma City bombing victims, after a prosecutor delivered a wrenching summation that portrayed McVeigh as a terrorist who killed children in the warped belief he was a patriot.
Today in 1997, Jesse Timmedequas was found guilty of the rape and murder of seven-year-old Megan Kanka. Megan’s murder led to the introduction of "Megan's Law," which requires law enforcement to disclose details relating to the location of registered sex offenders.
Today in 1998, the movie, "Almost Heroes," starring Matthew Perry and Chris Farley (in his final role before his untimely death), opened in theaters nationwide. Also hitting the silver screen? The movie, "Hope Floats," starring Sandra Bullock.
Today in 1999, the space shuttle "Discovery" completed the first-ever docking with the international space station.
Today in 2001, U.S. Supreme Court ruled that disabled golfer Casey Martin can use a cart to ride in tournaments.
Today in 2008, the Vatican issued a decree stating that anyone trying to ordain a woman as a priest and any woman who attempted to receive the ordination would incur automatic excommunication.
Today in 2008, legendary actor/comedian Harvey Korman died in Los Angeles at age 81.
Today in 2012,9-magnitude earthquake killed 24 people near Bologna, northern Italy.
Today in 2012, thousands marched in protest in Johannesburg against Brett Murray's controversial painting, “The Spear.” The Spear depicts South African President Jacob Zuma in a pose reminiscent of Lenin, with his genitals exposed. Zuma has often been the center of scandal and ridicule, due to his polygamous lifestyle with many wives and girlfriends, and a comment he made during his 2006 rape trial that showering after sex would minimize the risk of contracting HIV.
Today in 2013, Andrew Greeley, an outspoken Roman Catholic priest and best-selling author and longtime newspaper columnist, died in Chicago. He was 85.
Today in 2017, Tiger Woods was arrested and charged with driving under the influence in Jupiter, Florida. He plead guilty to reckless driving the following October, and was sentenced to 12-months probation…DUI school, a $250 fine and 50 hours of community service. He was also subject to random drug testing at any time during his probationary term. It all went so well that his probation was terminated a month early in September 2018.
Today in 2017, Americans turned out by the thousands to celebrate the life and legacy of President John F. Kennedy on the day he would have turned 100.
Today in 2018, Missouri Governor Eric Greitens resigned over revelations of an extramarital affair and illegal use of a donor list.
Today in 2018, ABC TV canceled its "Roseanne" series within hours of its star Roseanne Barr posting a racist tweet about former Obama administration advisor Valerie Jarrett.
Today in 2018, Starbucks closed more than eight-thousand stores early for racial bias training after two black men wrongly arrested in a store that previous April.
Today in 2019, Special Counsel Robert Mueller said charging President Donald Trump with a crime never an option as there was no legal means to charge a sitting president. While President Trump gloated that this meant he was exonerated, Mueller was clear: his report does not exonerate the president.
Today in 2019, the world's smallest surviving baby, a girl identified as Saybie, was discharged from Sharp March Birch Hospital in San Diego. She had been born at 23 weeks weighing just 8.6-ounces (245 grams) and measuring 9-inchies in length – about half the size of a ‘normal’ baby at that stage. She had spent five months in the hospital...and went home as a healthy five-pound, six-ounce little angel.
Today in 2019, being transgender was de-classified as a mental health illness by the World Health Organization.