In 1590, King Henry IV of France defeated the Catholic League at the Battle of Ivry during the French Wars of Religion.
In 1743, the first American town meeting was held at Boston’s Faneuil Hall.
In 1812, the US Congress approved war bonds to finance the War of 1812.
In 1845, a temperature of -5.3°F (-20.7°C) was recorded in Groningen, Netherlands.
In 1858, Seventh-day Adventist co-founder Ellen G. White received a vision during a funeral service in Lovett’s Grove, Ohio.
In 1880, the Salvation Army of England began its American mission at Harry Hill’s Variety Theatre in New York City.
The United States officially adopted the gold standard in 1900 after Congress passed the Currency Act.
In 1903, the first US national bird reservation was established in Sebastian, Florida.
In 1908, the Montreal Wanderers won the Stanley Cup by defeating the Toronto Professionals 6–4 at the Montreal Arena, Westmount, Quebec.
In 1923, Warren G. Harding became the first U.S. president to pay income taxes.
In 1946, the American noir classic film Gilda, starring Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford, premiered in New York City.
In 1956, 50-year-old baseball legend Satchel Paige signed a contract to play for and manage the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro National League.
In 1960, Philadelphia’s Wilt Chamberlain set an NBA playoff record by scoring 53 points in the Warriors’ 132–112 win over the Syracuse Nationals.
In 1962, Gordie Howe of the Detroit Red Wings became the second player in NHL history to score 500 career goals during a 3–2 loss to the New York Rangers.
In 1969, West Indies batsman Seymour Nurse scored a career-high 258 in his final Test innings, leading his team to victory over New Zealand in the Third Test in Christchurch.
