1795

Napoleon Bonaparte of France was nationally recognized for suppressing armed counter-revolutionary rioters to protect the National Convention.

1824

Mexico, adopting a new constitution, became a federal republic.

1830

The Provisional Government of Belgium became independent from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, becoming recognized as its own country.

1876

Texas A&M opened in Brazos, Texas, making it the first public institution of higher education in Texas.

1883

After a test train was run the year before, the Orient Express made its first run from Paris to Vienna.

1927

Gutzon Borglum began the sculpting of Mount Rushmore.

1957

In the heat of the Space Race, Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth, was launched by the USSR.

1958

The current constitution of France was adopted.

1965

Pope Paul VI arrived in New York City, making him the first Pope to visit the Americas.

1966

Basutoland, a country in southern Africa, became independent from the United Kingdom and was renamed Lesotho.

1993

The Russian parliament building in Moscow was shelled by tanks while demonstrators against president Boris Yeltsin rallied outside.

1997

The second largest cash robbery in U.S. history occurred in Charlotte, North Carolina.

2004

SpaceShipOne of Mojave Aerospace Ventures became the first private craft to ever enter space.