1636 – Johan Mauritius appointed governor of Dutch Brazil
1772 – English poet and artist William Blake aged 14 is first apprenticed to engraver James Basire in London
1854 – The Hinomaru is established as the official flag to be flown from Japanese ships
1914 – US declares neutrality on the outbreak of WWI
1934 – II British Empire Games open at London’s White City Stadium
1943 – USAAF bombs Germans in Troina
1946 – An earthquake of magnitude 8.0 hits northern Dominican Republic. 100 are killed and 20,000 are left homeless.
1947 – American boxer Ike Williams knocks out Bob Montgomery in 6 rounds in Philadelphia to unify the world lightweight title
1983 – 16th San Diego Comic-Con International opens at Hotel San Diego
1986 – Reports of probable OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) agreement on output quotas sends oil prices higher