Today in 1675, the first corporation was charted in the United States today. It was the New York Fishing Company.
Today in 1798, the 11th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified by the necessary number of states. It prohibits a citizen of one state from suing another state in federal court.
Today in 1867, African American men were granted the right to vote in Washington, D.C., despite President Andrew Johnson's veto.
Today in 1889, Herman Hollerith of New York patented the first computer designed for data processing. The prototype model of this electrically operated tabulator was built for the U. S. Census Bureau and computed results in the 1890 census. Using punched cards containing information submitted by respondents to the census questionnaire, the Hollerith machine made instant tabulations from electrical impulses actuated by each hole. It then printed out the processed data on tape.
Today in 1877, Crazy Horse and his warriors fought their last battle with the United States Cavalry at Wolf Mountain (Montana Territory).
Today in 1918, President Woodrow Wilson presented fourteen specific war aims for World War I, and these later become the basis of the Treaty of Versailles, which ended the war.
Today in 1968, Jacques Cousteau's first undersea special aired on US network TV.
Today in 1965, Ella Grasso became the governor of Connecticut. She was the first woman to become a governor of a state without a husband preceding her in the governor's chair.
Today in 1991, Pan Am Airlines filed for bankruptcy. It set a trend. Continental went into Chapter 11 the same year. The next year America West Airlines did the same. And TWA went bankrupt the year after that.
Today in 1992, President Bush got ill and collapsed during a state dinner in Tokyo. Along the way, he (in)famously threw up on the lap of Japanese Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa. Later, White House officials said Bush was suffering from stomach flu.
Today in 1994, Tonya Harding won the ladies' U.S. Figure Skating Championship in Detroit – a day after Nancy Kerrigan dropped out because of a clubbing attack that injured her right knee on the 6th. The US Figure Skating Association later took the title from Harding because of her involvement in the attack and eventually banned her from their competitions for life.
Today in 1997, Mister Rogers – aka Fred Rogers – received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Today in 1998, "Unabomber" suspect, Theodore Kaczynski, reportedly tried to commit suicide just hours before stunning a packed courtroom by saying he wanted to be his own lawyer and argue he is sane. He appeared in court with a red mark on his neck and missing his undershorts, leading police to conclude he attempted to kill himself in his cell at the Sacramento County Jail. He was placed under 24-hour-a-day security surveillance.
Today in 1999, the top two executives of Salt Lake City's Olympic Organizing Committee resigned amid disclosures that civic boosters had given cash to members of the International Olympic Committee.
Today in 2004, Pete Rose admitted that he bet on baseball, during his appearance on ABC's “Prime-Time Thursday.”
Today in 2007, Van Halen, R-E-M, Patti Smith, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five and The Ronettes were announced as the 2007 class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Today in 2011, Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was shot while talking with constituents at a Tucson grocery store by 22-year-old Jared Lee Loughner. Although she will miraculously survive being shot in the head, six others were killed.
Today in 2016, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto announced the recapture of drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, six months after he escaped prison.
Today in 2018, the United States noted a record year for cost of natural disasters – $306-billion in 2017.
Today in 2020, Iran launched a missile strike on the Irbil and Al Asad bases in Iraq, which house some American troops, in retaliation for the assassination of General Qasem Soleimani.