1640 Portugal regains independence after 60 years of Spanish rule
1641 Mass becomes first colony to give statutory recognition to slavery
1742 Jews are expelled from Great Russia by Empress Elisabeth
1750 First American school to offer manual training courses opens, Md
1783 Charles and M.N. Roberts ascend 2,000' in a hydrogen balloon
1787 The first lighthouse, built at Kinnaird Head, Fraserburgh, by Thomas Smith and Robert Stevenson, lit.
1821 Santo Domingo (Dominican Rep) proclaims independence from Spain
1822 Dom Pedro crowned emperor of Brazil
1824 House of Reps begins to end election deadlock between JQ Adams, Jackson, WH Crawford & H Clay - Adams eventually declared president
1831 Erie Canal closes for entire month due to cold weather
1838 Van Diemen's Land gets its first library to boost morale.
1842 Midshipman Philip Spencer, son of Secretary of War John C. Spencer, is hanged for mutiny from the yardarm of the U.S.S. Somers, a small brig of war at sea in West Indian waters. He was convicted at a court-martial held on the ship of conspiring to organize a mutiny, murder the officers, and convert the captured ship into a pirate vessel
1854 Armed Diggers prepare for confrontation with troops on Eureka Hill, Victcoria.
1864 Fire in Brisbane destroys city area bounded by Queen, George, Elizabeth and Albert streets.
1878 First White House telephone installed
1887 Sherlock Holmes first appears in print "A Study In Scarlet"
1887 Sino-Portuguese treaty recognizes Portugal's control of Macao
1896 The First certified public accountants receive certificates, New York
1909 The First Christmas Club payment made, to Carlisle Trust Co, Pa
1913 Continuous moving assembly line introduced by Ford (car every 2 38)
1913 The First drive-up gasoline station opens (Pittsburgh)
1913 The Ford Motor Company introduced the continuous moving assembly line on this day. Ford's new assembly line could produce a complete car every two-and-a-half minutes
1917 Father Edward Flanagan founded Boys Town
1918 Iceland becomes independent state under the Danish crown
1919 Lady Astor sworn-in as first female member of British Parliament
