Today is Thursday, August 23, the 234th day of 2007. There are 131 days left in the year.
1833 _ Britain abolishes slavery in colonies; 700,000 slaves freed
1866 _ The Treaty of Prague ends Austro-Prussian war
1872 _ The first Japanese commercial ship visits San Francisco, carrying tea
1889 _ The first ship-to-shore wireless message received in the U.S.
1904 _ Automobile tire chain patented
1914 _ Japan declares war on Germany in World War I
1924 _ Mars' closest approach to Earth since the 10th century
1939 _ USSR and Germany sign a non-aggression pact
1944 _ Romania liberated from Nazi occupation
1966 _ Lunar Orbiter 1 takes the first photograph of Earth from Moon
1973 _ Intelsat communications satellite launched
1979 _ Bolshoi Ballet dancer Alexander Godunov defects in NYC
1979 _ U.N.'s Vienna office opens
1988 _ Mike Tyson and Mitch Green brawl at 4 a.m. in Harlem