- 1781 – American Revolutionary War: British General Charles, Earl Cornwallis surrenders at the Siege of Yorktown.
- 1888 – Thomas Edison files a patent for the Optical Phonograph (the first movie).
- 1931 – Al Capone is convicted of income tax evasion.
- 1933 – Albert Einstein flees Nazi Germany and moves to the United States.
- 1973 – The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) declared an oil embargo on countries supporting Israel in its war with Egypt, Syria and Jordan. The ensuing energy crisis drove up gasoline prices and created a shortage in the U.S.
- 1979 – Mother Theresa is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
