311-Roman Emperor Galerius issues the Edict of Toleration, ending the persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire
711 Islamic conquest of Iberia: Moorish troops led by Tariq ibn Ziyad land at Gibraltar to begin their invasion of the Iberian Peninsula (Al-Andalus)
1562-Jean Ribault and colonists arrive in Florida, the first French colonists in North America
1789-George Washington is inaugurated as the first President of the United States of America at Federal Hall in NYC
1859-Charles Dickens' "A Tale of Two Cities" is first published in the literary periodical "All the Year Round" in weekly installments until Nov.26
1999-Cambodia joins the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bringing the total members to 10
2009-Chrysler automobile company files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy