- 1634 – The first colonists arrive at Maryland’s western shore and establish the first settlement of St. Mary’s. Last week, archeologists announced that they had found the ruins of St. Mary’s.
- 1807 – The British Parliament passed the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act making the slave trade illegal in the British colonies. However, trade continued in the Caribbean until 1811. Watch the 2007 movie Amazing Grace for a look at the work William Wilberforce put into the effort.
- 1862 – George Sutherland is born. He was a Utah Senator, a U.S. Senator and the only Supreme Court Justice to come from Utah. He was a strong proponent of women’s political rights for his entire life. Conservative Utah think tank Sutherland Institute is named for George.
- 1911 – The Triangle Shirtwaist Company factory sweatshop in New York City burns down, killing 146 workers, almost all of them women.
- 1931 – Ida B. Wells Barnett dies of kidney failure at age 68.
- 1934 – Gloria Steinem is born.
- 1949 – Lillian E. Fishburne is born. She became the first African-American female to hold the rank of Rear Admiral (RDML) in the United States Navy (1998).
- 1967 – Debi Thomas is born. In 1988, she became the first Black athlete to ever win a medal in the Olympic Winter Games when she won the bronze in figure skating.
