1492 – Christopher Columbus’ fleet leaves Gomera, Canary islands
1839 – Great fire in New York
1869 – 1st westbound train arrives in San Francisco
1958 – US performs nuclear test at S Atlantic Ocean
1975 – US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
1980 – Macalaster U of St Paul, Minn beating Mount Senario 17-14
1991 – Ronald Venetiaan chosen president of Suriname
1994 – Franziska van Almsick swims female record 200m freestyle (1:56.78)
2012 – Barack Obama accepts the Democratic nomination for US President
2017 – Catalonia’s parliament passes law to allow referendum on independence from Spain