Today in 79 AD, Mount Vesuvius began stirring, on feast day of Vulcan, Roman god of fire (it would go on to destroy Pompeii).
Today in 1796, the Mother African Methodist Episcopal Church was incorporated in New York.
Today in 1902, Fannie Farmer, of chocolate candy fame, opened her cooking school in Boston, Massachusetts. Known as the “mother of measurements,” she revolutionized food preparation throughout the world with her introduction of precise measurements – the level teaspoon, tablespoon, cup, etc.
Today in 1982, Gaylord Perry was tossed out of a game for throwing an illegal spitball. Perry, pitching for the Seattle Mariners, was thrown out by the home plate umpire in the seventh inning of the game.
Today in 1989, in a case that inflamed racial tensions in New York, Yusuf Hawkins, a 16-year-old black youth, was shot dead after he and his friends were confronted by white youths in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn.
Today in 1996, Osama bin Laden issued a message entitled "A declaration of war against the Americans occupying the land of the two holy places."
Today in 1999, the Dow Jones industrial average soared 199.15 to a new record of 11,209.84.
Today in 2001, California Congressman Gary Condit denied any involvement in the disappearance of intern Chandra Levy during an interview with ABC’s Connie Chung. He also admitted that he had a "very close relationship" with her.
Today in 2005, Hurricane Katrina formed over the Bahamas, later becoming a category 5 hurricane.
Today in 2017, the US Navy removed Vice Admiral Joseph Aucoin as commander of the Seventh Fleet following series of collisions in Asian waters.