1783-Britain evacuates NY, their last military position in U.S.
1867-Alfred Nobel invents dynamite
1897-Spain grants Puerto Rico autonomy
1940-Patria steamer sinks killing 200, outside of Haifa
1958-Senegal becomes an autonomous state in the French Community
1975-Netherlands grants Surinam independence (National Day)
1978-American Airlines DC-10 crashes on takeoff from Chicago, kills 275
1983-Syria & Saudi Arabia announce cease-fire in PLO civil war in Tripoli
1986-Iran-Contra affair erupts, President Reagan reveals secret arm deal
1988-Convention on exploitation of Antarctic mineral resources signed
1990-Lech Walesa wins in Poland's first popular election