Today:
1698 – Russian Tsar Peter the Great imposes a tax on beards, part of his effort to modernize Russia.
1774 – The First Continental Congress assembles in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
1793 – The French Revolution’s Reign of Terror begins as Robespierre declares Terror “the order of the day.”
1836 – Sam Houston is elected as the first president of the Republic of Texas.
1905 – The Treaty of Portsmouth is signed, formally ending the Russo-Japanese War.
1914 – The First Battle of the Marne begins during World War I, halting the German advance into France.
1927 – The first Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon, “Trolley Troubles,” is released by Walt Disney.
1960 – Muhammad Ali (then Cassius Clay) wins the gold medal in light-heavyweight boxing at the Rome Olympics.
1972 – Palestinian group Black September attacks Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics, resulting in the death of 11 athletes.
1977 – NASA’s Voyager 1 is launched to study the outer planets and interstellar space.