On this day;

1704 – The first regular newspaper in the United States, the News-Letter, is published in Boston, Massachusetts.

1800 – The United States Library of Congress is established when President John Adams signs legislation to appropriate $5,000 USD to purchase "such books as may be necessary for the use of Congress".

1862 – American Civil War: A flotilla commanded by Union Admiral David Farragut passes two Confederate forts on the Mississippi River on its way to capture New Orleans, Louisiana.

1926 – The Treaty of Berlin is signed. Germany and the Soviet Union each pledge neutrality in the event of an attack on the other by a third party for the next five years.

1953 – Winston Churchill is knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.

2005 – Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger is inaugurated as the 265th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church taking the name Pope Benedict XVI.

Born on this day

1533 – William I of Orange (d. 1584)

1856 – Henri Philippe Pétain, French soldier and statesman (d. 1951)

1904 – Willem de Kooning, Dutch painter (d. 1997)

1905 – Robert Penn Warren, American poet (d. 1989)

1941 – Richard Holbrooke, American diplomat (d. 2010)

1942 – Richard M. Daley, American politician

Died on this day

1731 – Daniel Defoe, English writer (b. 1660)

1986 – Wallis Simpson (Wallis, Duchess of Windsor), wife of Edward, Duke of Windsor (b. 1896)

1997 – Pat Paulsen, American comedian and politician (b. 1927)