1513-Spaniard Juan Ponce de León and his expedition first sight Florida
1625-Charles I, King of England, Scotland and Ireland ascends the English throne
1794-Naval Act of 1794 is signed by President George Washington, authorizing the building of six frigates and establishing a permanent US Navy
1914-First successful non-direct blood transfusion is performed by Dr. Albert Hustin in Brussels
1958-Nikita Khrushchev becomes Soviet Premier as well as First Secretary of the Communist Party
1977-583 die in aviation's worst ever disaster when two Boeing 747s collide at Tenerife airport in Spain