Today in History

General Norman Schwarzkopf, commander of the coalition army, sends in ground forces during the Gulf War.

Hanoi negotiators walk out of the peace talks in Paris to protest U.S. air raids on North Vietnam.

North Vietnamese troops capture the imperial palace in Hue, South Vietnam.

Khrushchev rejects the Western plan for the Big Four meeting on Germany.

Franz von Papen is sentenced to eight years in a labor camp for war crimes.

U.S. forces liberate prisoners of war in the Los Baños Prison in the Philippines.

Merrill’s Marauders, a specially trained group of American soldiers, begin their ground campaign against Japan into Burma.

The New Gallery of New York exhibits works of Archibald Motley, its first show to feature a black artist.

Herbert Hoover becomes Secretary of Commerce.

A film version of Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea opens in New York.

Civil War soldier Joshua Chamberlain dies.

The Jewish organization Hadassah is founded in New York City.

August Derleth, writer (Still is the Summer Night, The Shield of the Valiant).

Japan officially agrees to restrict emigration to the U.S.

The Cuban War of Independence begins.

Mary Ellen Chase, New England writer.

Chester Nimitz, U.S. admiral who commanded naval forces in the Pacific during WWII.

Honus Wagner, baseball shortstop known as “The Flying Dutchman.”

John Phillip Holland, inventor of the modern submarine.

Winslow Homer, American painter.

Mexico gains independence from Spain.

Off Guiana, the American sloop Hornet sinks the British sloop Peacock.

Chief Justice John Marshall, by refusing to rule on the case of Marbury vs. Madison, asserts the authority of the judicial branch.

Wilhelm Carl Grimm, compiler, with his brother of fairy tales.

Ferdinand of Hapsburg and John Zapolyai, the two kings of Hungary, conclude the peace of Grosswardein.

In the first of the Franco-Habsburg Wars, the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V captures the French king Francis I at the Battle of Pavia, Italy.

Charles V, king of Spain and the last Holy Roman Emperor to be crowned by the Pope.

Pepin the Short of Gaul dies. His dominions are divided between his sons Charles (Charlemagne) and Carloman.