2003 The Spirit Rover was launched by NASA to start the Mars Exploration Rover mission

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

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

1901 Guglielmo Marconi sent and received the first wireless message across the Atlantic Ocean

1814 Innovation of the steam locomotive (engine)

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

1804 Haiti declared its independence from France

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

1903 Innovation of the aeroplane

1940 Winston Churchill became British Prime Minister, replacing Neville Chamberlain

1964 United States President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act into law

1835 The Treaty of New Echota was signed between the United States Government and representatives of a minority Cherokee Political Faction

1876 Innovation of the telephone

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

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