World History & Politics
- 1468 – Johannes Gutenberg, inventor of the printing press, died in Mainz, Germany.
- 1783 – Great Britain officially recognized the independence of the United States (through agreements following the Treaty of Paris).
- 1870 – The 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, granting African American men the right to vote.
- 1959 – The day before the famous plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper, they performed their last concert in Clear Lake, Iowa.
Science & Exploration
- 1966 – The Soviet spacecraft Luna 9 became the first spacecraft to successfully land on the Moon and transmit photographs back to Earth.
Culture & Entertainment
- 1954 – Guitar legend Buddy Holly played one of his early major performances at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York.
- 1974 – The song “Seasons in the Sun” by Terry Jacks hit #1 on the U.S. charts.
Law & Society
- 1913 – The 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, allowing Congress to levy a federal income tax.
Technology
- 1998 – The game “Tekken 3” was released for PlayStation in North America, becoming one of the best-selling fighting games of all time.
