Today in Histroy

1497 Italian navigator Amerigo Vespucci leaves for his first voyage to the New World (disputed)
1775 Second Continental Congress convenes in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and issues paper currency for 1st time

1801 First Barbary War: The Barbary pirates of Tripoli declare war on the United States of America (1st US foreign war)
1857 Indian mutiny against rule by the British East India Company begins with the revolt of the Sepoy soldiers in Meerut
1940 Winston Churchill succeeds Neville Chamberlain as British Prime Minister
1960 US atomic submarine USS Triton completes 1st submerged circumnavigation of the globe
1994 Nelson Mandela sworn in as South Africa’s 1st black president

Today in Film & TV

1956 9th Cannes Film Festival: “The Silent World” directed by Jacques Cousteau and Louis Malle wins the Palme d’Or

Today in Music

1963 Decca signs Rolling Stones on advice of Beatle George Harrison

Today in Sports

1970 Stanley Cup Final, Boston Garden, Boston, MA: Bobby Orr scores famous OT winner as Boston beats St. Louis Blues, 4-3 for 4-0 series sweep; Bruins its first title since 1941