1663: The British Parliament passes the second Navigation Act requiring that all goods bound for the American colonies have to be sent in English ships from English ports.
1733: Jeremiah Dixon is born. He, along with Charles Mason, determined what later would be called the Mason-Dixon line.
1789: The first U.S. federal government agency, the Department of Foreign Affairs, is established (later renamed Department of State).
1794: During the French Revolution, Maximilien Robespierre is arrested after encouraging the execution of more than 17,000 "enemies of the Revolution." He would have his own meeting with Madame Guillotine the next day.
1824: Alexandre Dumas is born.1862: Sailing from San Francisco to Panama, the SS Golden Gate catches fire and sinks off Manzanillo, Mexico, killing 231.
1866: The Atlantic Cable is successfully completed, allowing transatlantic telegraph communication for the first time.1916: Keenan Wynn is born. He played irascible old guys in hundreds of movies including Bikini Beach and parts: the clonus horror. He also played Colonel "Bat" Guano in Dr. Strangelove.
1921: Researchers at the University of Toronto led by biochemist Frederick Banting announce the discovery of the hormone insulin.
1922: Norman Lear is born.
1931: Jerry Van Dyke is born.
1938: Gary Gygax, creator of Dungeons & Dragons is born.
1940: The animated short A Wild Hare is released, introducing the character of Bugs Bunny. By the way, don't ever do a video search for "A Wild Hare" at work, because it pulls up a bunch of "How to perform a breast self exam" videos. I have no idea why.1944: Bobbie Gentry is born. She is best known for the Southern Gothic song Ode to Billie Joe.
1953: The Korean War armistice is signed at Panmunjon, ending three years of fighting.
1972: The F-15 Eagle flies for the first time.
1974: The House of Representatives Judiciary Committee votes 27 to 11 to recommend the first article of impeachment against President Richard Nixon: obstruction of justice.Today in History elements mostly cribbed from The History Channel, Wikipedia, The New York Times, The Jewish World Review, The Writer's Almanac and anything else I can dig up.
