1291 – A pact was made to form the Swiss Confederation. The anniversary of this founding has been celebrated as National Day in Switzerland since 1891.
1770 – Explorer William Clark was born in Caroline County, VA.
1779 – Attorney – poet Francis Scott Key (The Star-Spangled Banner) was born in Carroll County, MD.
1819 – Author Herman Melville (Moby Dick, Redburn, Typee, Omoo, White-Jacket) was born in New York City.
1876 – Colorado became the 38th state of the United States.
1940 – John Fitzgerald Kennedy, then age 23, published his first book, Why England Slept.
1953 – The Alcoa (Aluminum Corporation of America) Building in Pittsburgh, PA, the first aluminum-faced building constructed in America, was completed.
1981 – The MTV (Music Television) Network made its debut.
Chief Writing Wolf 