1737-Earthquake kills 300,000 & destroys ≪ of Calcutta India
1811-The Juliana, the first steam-powered ferryboat, begins operation
1864-Slavery abolished in Maryland
1922-First woman FBI "special investigator" appointed (Alaska Davidson)
1932-First political telecast (Democratic National Committee) at CBS, NYC
1945-Chinese civil war begins, Chiang Kai-shek vs Mao Zedong
1975-"Saturday Night Live" premieres with guest host George Carlin
1981-Unknown rocker Prince opens for Rolling Stones at LA Coliseum
1984-VP candidate debate-Geraldine Ferraro (D) & George Bush (R)
1986-Reagan & Gorbachev open talks at a summit in Reykjavik, Iceland
1990-Octavio Paz wins Nobel Prize for literature
1990-Oil hits a record $40.42 per barrel
1991-Anita Hill testifies Clarence Thomas sexually harrassed her