1572 — Supernova is observed in the constellation known as Cassiopeia
1813 — Chilpancingo congress declares Mexico independent of Spain
1850 — First Hawaiian fire engine
1860 — Abraham Lincoln (R-Ill-Rep) elected 16th President
1913 — Mohandas K Gandhi arrested for leading Indian miners march in South Africa
1918 — Republic of Poland proclaimed
1923 — USSR adopts experimental calendar, with 5-day "weeks"
1952 — First hydrogen bomb exploded (by U.S. at Eniwetok Atoll)
1969 — First Cy Young Award tie (Mike Cuellar, Baltimore & Denny McLain, Detroit)
1973 — Abe Beame elected 1st jewish mayor on NYC
1978 — Shah of Iran places Iran under military rule
1993 — Next transit of Mercury