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1742

Other

Benjamin Franklin invented his Franklin stove.

1770

Other

Captain James Cook, commander of the British ship Endeavour, discovered the Great Barrier Reef off Australia by running into it.

1776

War

The Continental Congress formed a committee to draft a Declaration of Independence from Britain. (The Committee was made up of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston and Roger Sherman.)

1837

Other

The Broad Street Riot occurred in Boston, fueled by ethnic tensions between English-Americans and Irish-Americans.

1859

Other

A prospector laid claim to a silver deposit in a six-mile canyon in Nevada – a claim that later turned out to be the multimillion-dollar Comstock Lode.

1938

Sports

Johnny Vander Meer, pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds, pitched his first of two consecutive no-hitters.   The Cincinnati Reds beat the Boston Bees (later, the Braves), 3-0, at Crowley Field in Cincinnati, Ohio.  Four days later, he would pitch his second no-hitter.

1963

Civil Rights

After defying a federal court order to allow two blacks to enroll at the University of Alabama, Governor George Wallace relented following a confrontation with federal troops.

1963

War

An elderly Buddhist monk named Thich Quong Duc seated himself in a major intersection of downtown Saigon, and amid a gathering crowd, set fire to his gasoline-soaked robes. This incident set off demonstrations throughout South Vietnam for the ouster of President Ngo Dinh Diem.

1965

Other

The International Poetry Incarnation met at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Notables included Allen Ginsberg, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Michael Horovitz and William S. Burroughs.

1995

Other

Denver International Airport opened, replacing Stapleton International Airport.

1999

Other

The movie The Matrix was released.

2001

Civil Rights

Maiden voyage of Dutch ship Women on Waves occurred. Staffed by women, it’s equipped to perform safe abortions in international waters.

1880

Birthday

Jeannette Rankin (First Congresswoman elected to the United States Congress)

1903

Birthday

Ernie Nevers (Football player)

1910

Birthday

Jacques Cousteau (researcher who studied the sea and all forms of life in water)

1911

Birthday

Russ Hodges (Sportscaster)

1913

Birthday

Vince Lombardi (NFL coach)

1931

Birthday

Billy Casper (Golfer)

1933

Birthday

Gene Wilder (Actor)

1945

Birthday

Walt Piatkowski (Basketball player)

1949

Birthday

Frank Beard (Rock musician, ZZ Top)

1956

Birthday

Joe Montana (Football player)

1960

Birthday

Mehmet Oz (Dr. Oz, TV personality)