1387 – Geoffrey Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales” characters begin their pilgrimage to Canterbury (according to scholars)
1492 – Christopher Columbus signs a contract with the Spanish monarchs to find the “Indies” with the stated goal of converting people to Catholicism. This promises him 10% of all riches found, and the governorship of any lands encountered.
1711 – Charles VI becomes Holy Roman Emperor after the death of his brother Joseph I
1797 – Sir Ralph Abercromby attacks San Juan, Puerto Rico, one of the largest invasions of Spanish territories in America
1853 – Johan Rudolf Thorbecke’s government in the Netherlands resigns
1860 – Champion of England Tom Sayers and American John Heenan fight out brutal 2 hour, 27 minute draw near Farnborough, England; police stop fight acknowledged as first world title bout
1961 – 33rd Academy Awards: “Apartment” wins best film, Burt Lancaster and Elizabeth Taylor win best actor, actress
1964 – Jerrie Mock becomes 1st woman to fly solo around the world
1987 – USSR performs nuclear test at Eastern Kazakh/Semipalitinsk USSR
2015 – Jazz composer and musician John Coltrane is awarded a posthumous Special Citation by the Pulitzer Prize board