1736 - Astronomer Anders Celsius takes measurements that confirm Newton's theory that the earth was an ellipsoid rather than the previously accepted sphere
1775 - First official US flag raised (Grand Union Flag) aboard naval vessel USS Alfred
1818 - Illinois becomes the 21st U.S. state.
1973 - Pioneer program: Pioneer 10; NASA launches Pioneer 10 sends back the first close-up images of Jupiter.
1993 - United States opened a liaison office in Skopje.
2012 - Typhoon Bopha; At least 475 people are killed in the Philippines.
International Day of Persons with Disabilities
