1808 The slave trade became illegal when the United States enacted a law banning the importation of slaves

1804 Haiti declared its independence from France

1964 Kenya became a republic

1926 John Logie Baird gave the first public demonstration of a live television system

1997 The United Kingdom returned Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China

1807 Innovation of the steamboat

1921 The Communist Party of China (CPC) was formed, and Chen Duxiu was elected its leader

1963 President John F. Kennedy signed the United States Equal Pay Act into law

1924 Astronomer Edwin Hubble formally announced that the Milky Way is just one of many galaxies in the universe

1895 German physicist Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen discovered X-Rays

1814 Innovation of the steam locomotive (engine)

1836 Spain recognized the independence of Mexico by signing the Santa María–Calatrava Treaty

1994 Nelson Mandela sworn in as the first black president of South Africa

1876 Innovation of the telephone

1903 Innovation of the aeroplane