1581
Exploration
Francis Drake Knighted by Queen Elizabeth I
Queen Elizabeth I knighted Francis Drake aboard his ship, the Golden Hind, after his circumnavigation of the globe. Spain considered Drake a pirate; England hailed him as a hero.
On This Day in History
1818
Politics
Congress Adopts Flag with 13 Stripes
Congress passed a flag act establishing the U.S. flag design with 13 permanent stripes representing the original colonies. New states would be represented by additional stars only.
1841
Politics
William Henry Harrison Dies in Office
President William Henry Harrison died of pneumonia after only 31 days in office, the shortest presidency in American history. His death tested the constitutional succession process.
1887
Civil Rights
Argonia, Kansas Elects First Female Mayor in U.S.
Susanna Madora Salter became the first woman elected mayor of an American city when she won the election in Argonia, Kansas. She was placed on the ballot as a joke but won.
1949
Politics
NATO Treaty Signed
Twelve nations signed the North Atlantic Treaty in Washington, D.C., creating NATO. The alliance committed member nations to mutual defense against Soviet aggression.
1968
Civil Rights
Martin Luther King Jr. Assassinated
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was shot and killed on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. His assassination at age 39 sparked riots across the nation and mourning worldwide.
1975
Invention
Microsoft Founded
Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded Microsoft in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The company would grow to dominate the personal computer software industry and make both founders billionaires.