1790 – The U.S. Supreme Court convened in New York City for its firs session.
1861 – Texas secedes from the United States.
1865 – President Abraham Lincoln signs the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which abolished slavery.
1964 – The Beatles have their first number one hit in the U.S. with “I Want to Hold Your Hand.”
1979 – Iranian Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returns to Iran after nearly 15 years of exile.
2003 – Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during reentry into the Earth’s atmosphere, killing all seven astronauts aboard.
