On this day...
1799-Napoleon becomes dictator (firstconsul) of France
1858-First performance of NY Symphony Orchestra
1864-First export of goods from Burrard Inlet, BC to a foreign country
1885-The opera "Ermine" is produced (London)
1904-First airplane flight to last more than 5 minutes
1924-Miriam (Ma) Ferguson becomes first elected woman governor (of Texas)
1927-Giant Panda discovered, China
1935-Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) labor union forms
1953-Cambodia (now Kampuchea) gains independence within French Union
1961-PGA eliminates Caucasians only rule
1973-Fire at Taiyo department store, kills 101 & injures 84 (Kumamoto Japan)
1976-U.N. General Assembly condemns apartheid in South Africa
1984-Vietnam Veterans Memorial ("3 Servicemen") completed
1985-Gary Kasparov (USSR) becomes World Chess Champion at age of 22
1989-East Berlin opens its borders