Today in 1609, Henry Hudson left on an expedition for the Dutch East India Company. Hudson explored the northeastern coast of America, eventually sailing into the mouth of a wide river near today's New York City. He hoped the river – now named the Hudson River – would provide a passage west to the Pacific. But after 150 miles and reaching a location near where Albany sits today, he gave up, as the water was too shallow.
Today in 1863, the first US Army Medal of Honor was awarded to Pvt. Jacob Parrott, the first of a group of six men awarded the Medal for their actions in "The Great Locomotive Chase" in April 1862.
Today in 1911, in New York City, 146 women were killed in a fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company. The owners of the company were charged with manslaughter because some of the employees had been behind locked doors in the factory. They were later acquitted and, in 1914, ordered to pay damages to each of the twenty-three families that had sued. At the time, the fire was the deadliest industrial accident in New York City history.
Today in 1931, the so-called “Scottsboro Boys” arrested in Alabama on charges of raping two white women. The case is commonly cited as an example of a miscarriage of justice in the United States legal system.
Today in 1945, led by US Marine Corps, Allies secured the island of Iwo Jima from the Imperial Japanese Army, after 18-thousand Japanese and 6-thousand Americans killed.
Today in 1954, the first consumer-oriented color television went on sale. Made by RCA, it retailed for more than $1200.
Today in 1965, Martin Luther King Jr. led a group of 25,000 to the state capital in Montgomery, Alabama on behalf of voting rights for African-Americans in Alabama. At the conclusion, King delivered what’s commonly referred to as his "How Long, Not Long" speech as well.
Today in 1971, the Boston Patriots became the New England Patriots.
Today in 1988, Robert E. Chambers Jr. pled guilty to first-degree manslaughter in the death of 18-year-old Jennifer Levin. The case became known as New York City's “preppie murder case.” After his 2003 release, Chambers had a bumpy ride – finally getting busted on drug charges in 2008. Sentenced to 19 years on the drug charge, he remains at New York’s Sullivan Correctional Facility. His earliest release date is January 2024.
Today in 1991, the film, "Dances With Wolves," won seven Oscars, including Today in 1995, "Iron" Mike Tyson was released from the Indiana Youth Center after serving three years for the 1992 rape of beauty pageant contestant Desiree Washington.
Today in 1996, then-First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, accompanied by her daughter, Chelsea, visited American troops in Bosnia. She later said she and Chelsea had “run for cover” from sniper fire. That was shown to be false.
Today in 2004, the United States Senate passed the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, ruling that harming a fetus during the commission of a violent federal crime is a separate crime.
Today in 2009, the gay dating site Grindr, was launched by Joel Simkhai. It was the first-ever dating app to combine dating information and location.
Today in 2013, Tiger Woods returned to his world number one ranking following his spectacular fall from grace in 2009. In February 2015, Tiger announced an indefinite leave of absence from golf. In part, his statement offered, "Right now, I need a lot of work on my game, and to still spend time with the people that are important to me. My play, and scores, are not acceptable for tournament golf.”