1956 Dutch swimmer Cockie Gastelaars broke two decades' world record for 100m freestyle
1836 Spain recognized the independence of Mexico by signing the Santa María–Calatrava Treaty
1863 President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation
1945 International Monetary Fund was formally established by 29 member countries
1940 Winston Churchill became British Prime Minister, replacing Neville Chamberlain
1767 King Taksin was crowned King of Thailand (Siam)
2002 The Legislative Assembly appointed Eduardo Duhalde as interim President of Argentina
1974 President Richard Nixon signed the national speed limit into law
1945 The United Nations was officially established
1996 Sri Lanka won the Cricket World Cup
1993 Czechoslovakia was divided into two independent states