1521 – Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan was killed by natives of the Pilippine Islands during his attempt to be the first to circumnavigate the globe.
1861 – President Abraham Lincoln suspends the writ of habeas corpus.
1911 – Following the death of William P. Frye, a compromise is reached to rotate the office of President pro tempore of the U.S. Senate.
1974 – Ten thousand people march in Washington D.C. calling for the impeachment of President Richard Nixon.
1986 – The city of Pripyat and surrounding areas are evacuated due to the Chernobyl disaster.
