First day of conversion to Gregorian calendar from Julian for several countries (Poland, Spain, Italy, Portugal), due to Pope Gregory XIII’s decree. Great Britain and colonies did not convert until 1752 –
First U.S. Agriculture Bureau scientific publication issued –
Edison Electric Light Company established –
American Angler, the first fishing magazine in the U.S., was published in Philadelphia, PA –
Symphony Hall in Boston was inaugurated as the home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra –
Mata Hari, one of history’s most famous spies, was executed –
Statue of Liberty designated as a National Monument –
President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a bill creating the Department of Transportation –
An earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale shook southern California –
Veterans Memorial Bridge opened, Port Arthur-Bridge City, Texas –
Andy Green became the first person to break the sound barrier in a land-based vehicle, at 763.035 mph –
In New York, the Staten Island ferry plowed into a pier killing 10 people and injuring 42 more –
China launched its first manned space mission becoming the third country in history to send a person into orbit — four decades after the Soviet Union and the United States –
A magnitude 6.6 earthquake occurred near Kailua-Kona on the west coast of the Big Island of Hawaii –
Weather
Hurricane Hazel hit the Carolinas –
Hurricane Hazel struck southern Ontario –
Hazel II storm flooded Toronto –
15.88 inches of rain fell in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida –
