1974 President Richard Nixon signed the national speed limit into law
1945 International Monetary Fund was formally established by 29 member countries
1804 Haiti declared its independence from France
1814 Innovation of the steam locomotive (engine)
1807 Innovation of the steamboat
1996 Sri Lanka won the Cricket World Cup
2003 The Spirit Rover was launched by NASA to start the Mars Exploration Rover mission
1767 King Taksin was crowned King of Thailand (Siam)
1964 United States President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act into law
1997 The United Kingdom returned Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China
1990 Panamanian dictator Noriega surrendered to the United States
1932 Radio City Music Hall opened in New York City
1993 Czechoslovakia was divided into two independent states
1876 Innovation of the telephone
1863 President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation