Today in History

NASA launches the Phoenix spacecraft on a mission to Mars.

The US Senate votes to give each Japanese-American who was interned during WWII $20,000 compensation and an apology.

President Jimmy Carter establishes the Department of Energy.

Arthur Bremer is sentenced to 63 years for shooting Alabama governor George Wallace, later reduced to 53 years.

The U.S. launches the first satellite into lunar orbit from a manned spacecraft (Apollo 15).

The U.S.S. Maddox and Turner Joy exchange fire with North Vietnamese patrol boats.

Barack Obama, 44th president of the United States of America.

Mary Decker Slaney, American athlete, winner of seven track and field records.

Helicopters from the U.S. Air Force Air Rescue Service land in Germany, completing the first transatlantic flight by helicopter in 51 hours and 55 minutes of flight time.

RAF pilot T. D. Dean becomes the first pilot to destroy a V-1 buzz bomb when he tips the pilotless craft’s wing, sending it off course.

The British government charges that Mohandas Gandhi and his All-Indian Congress Party favor “appeasement” with Japan.

Germany invades Belgium causing Great Britain to declare war on Germany.

Raoul Wallenberg, Swedish diplomat credited with saving nearly 100,000 Budapest Jews during World War II.

Louis Armstrong, legendary jazz trumpeter.

A law is passed in Germany making Alsace Lorraine a territory of the empire.

The first Convention of Colored Newspapermen is held in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Federal troops fail to capture Fort Gaines on Dauphin Island, one of the Confederate forts defending Mobile Bay.

William Rowan Hamilton, Irish scientist.

Percy Bysshe Shelley, English poet and author.

The Revenue Cutter service, the parent service of the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, is organized.

The Constituent Assembly in France abolishes the privileges of nobility.

A friendship treaty is signed between France and Russia.

A crusade against the Moors of Morocco is routed at the Battle of Alcazar-el-Kebir. King Sebastian of Portugal and 8,000 of his soldiers are killed.

King Henry III puts down a revolt of English barons lead by Simon de Montfort.