In 1777, the U.S. flag was flown in battle for the first time, during a Revolutionary War skirmish at Cooch’s Bridge, Del.
In 1783, the Treaty of Paris was signed, officially ending the 7-year American Revolutionary War and recognizing U.S. independence from Britain.
In 1916, the Allies turned back the Germans in the World War I Battle of Verdun.
In 1936, Britain’s Malcolm Campbell set a land-speed record on the Bonneville Salt Flats of Utah, averaging 301.129 mph in two runs.
In 1939, Britain declared war on Germany. Britain was quickly joined by France, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Canada.
In 1942, Frank Sinatra began his solo singing career after leaving Tommy Dorsey’s orchestra.
In 1976, the Viking 2 took the first close-up, color photographs of Mars.
In 1991, film director Frank Capra, best known for such feel-good movies as “It Happened One Night” and “It’s A Wonderful Life,” died at the age of 94.
In 1992, an Italian plane carrying eight people and nearly 10,000 pounds of blankets for Bosnian war victims crashed en route to Sarajevo. Evidence suggested
it was shot down.
Also in 1992, Nobel laureate geneticist Barbara McClintock died at 90.
In 1996, the United States fired 27 missiles in Iraq, hitting air defense batteries. Despite criticism from Arab allies and European allies, the United
States fired 17 more missiles the next day.
In 1997, Arizona Gov. Fife Symington was convicted of fraud by a federal jury in Phoenix and resigned two days later, becoming the third U.S. governor
in recent years to quit because of a criminal conviction.
In 2001, the United States and Israel walked out of the U.N. conference on racism in Durban, South Africa.
In 2004, the 3-day Russian school crisis ended in a bloody 13-hour battle when security forces stormed the Beslan school building after Chechen terrorists
opened fire on hostages. At least 350 people, including about 155 children, were reported killed. All but one of the 31 suspected hostage-takers also died.
In 2005, William H. Rehnquist, the chief justice of the United States, died after a long bout with thyroid cancer at the age of 80. He had been on the
court since 1971.
In 2006, the Sudanese government launched a fresh offensive in Darfur, once again violating the U.N. resolution demanding an end to the conflict.
In 2007, U.S. President George W. Bush, in a third visit to Iraq, said some American troops could be withdrawn from the country if security improves.
Also in 2007, Arab tribes in Sudan’s western Darfur region were reported fighting among themselves instead of against government-backed militias.
In 2008, Sen. John McCain of Arizona was officially nominated as the Republican presidential candidate at the national GOP convention in St. Paul, Minn.
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was nominated for vice president, the first Republican woman candidate for such a high office.
Also in 2008, in what was reported to be their first acknowledged ground attack on Pakistani soil, U.S. military forces raided a village near the Afghanistan
border said to be home to al-Qaida militants.
In 2009, authorities reported evidence indicating that the largest brushfire in Los Angeles County history had been deliberately set. Two firefighters
were killed and close to 150,000 acres were scorched in the $43.5 million blaze.
Also in 2009, the United States said it had cut off all non-humanitarian aid to Honduras to try to pressure the de facto government into reinstating ousted
President Manuel Zelaya.