1993 - Bill Clinton was sworn in as the 42nd president of the United States.
1987 – Church of England envoy Terry Waite was kidnapped in Lebanon.
1986 - Soviets launched the space station Mir.
1981 - Ronald Reagan was sworn in as the 40th president of the United States.
1962 - John Glenn became the first American to orbit the earth.
1961 - John F. Kennedy was sworn in as the 35th president of the United States.
1958 - The UK government announced the naval dockyards at Sheerness were to close.
1936 - Britain's King George V died and Edward VIII became King of the United Kingdom.
1841 – The island of Hong Kong was occupied by the British.
1783 - Great Britain signed a peace treaty with France and Spain. Officially ending hostilities between the countries in the American War of Independence.
1649 - Charles I of England went on trial for treason and other "high crimes".