On this day...
1014-King Brian Boru of Ireland beats Danes at Battle of Clontarf
1154-Damascus surrenders to sultan Nur ad-Din van Aleppo
1838-English steamship "Great Western" crossing Atlantic docks in New York, N.Y.
1851-Canada issues its first postage stamps
1860 Democratic convention in Charleston SC divided over slavery
1900-First known occurrence of word "hillbillie" (New York Journal)
1962-First U.S. satellite to reach the moon launched
1980-Soviet sub catches fire off Japan, 9 die
1989-Students in Beijing announce class boycotts
1991-USSR grants republics right to secede under certain conditions
1995-President Bill Clinton declares a national day of mourning for Oklahoma City bombing victims
1996-Sotheby's begins four-day-long auction of Jackie O stuff, takes in $34.5 million
1997-"Titanic"opens at Lunt-Fontanne Theater NYC