- 1621: Gregory XV becomes Pope, the last Pope elected by acclamation. This marked the end of the papacy's tumultuous period following the Protestant Reformation.
- 1775: The British Parliament declares Massachusetts to be in rebellion, escalating tensions that would lead to the American Revolutionary War.
- 1788: The Habsburg Empire joins the Russo-Turkish War on the side of Russia, expanding the conflict and its geopolitical implications.
- 1846: Wilhelm Maybach, considered one of the pioneers of the automobile industry, is born in Germany.
- 1886: President Grover Cleveland declares a state of emergency in Seattle due to anti-Chinese violence, highlighting the complex dynamics of immigration and social tensions in the late 19th century.
- 1942: Japan evacuates its remaining forces from Guadalcanal, ending the Battle of Guadalcanal and marking a turning point in the Pacific War during World War II.
- 1964: The Beatles embark on their first tour of the United States, sparking "Beatlemania" and forever changing the landscape of popular music.
- 1996: Garry Kasparov, the reigning world chess champion, begins a six-round match against Deep Blue, a chess-playing computer built by IBM. Kasparov claimed victory, though Deep Blue won a rematch the following year, marking a significant milestone in the development of artificial intelligence.
What is the Guinness World Record for the largest pizza ever made?