1490 – England’s Civil War begins when King Charles I commanded his soldiers to arrest Parliament members.

1649 – Seven years after England’s Civil War begins Charles I is put on trial following a vote from Parliament.

1903 – Thomas Edison electrocutes Topsy a circus elephant that had been deemed violent after attacking three of its abusive handlers.

1948 – The nation of Burma. also referred to as Myanmar, became independent from the United Kingdom.

1958 – Sputnik 1, the Russian spacecract, returned from orbit and fell to the earth.

1965 – President Lyndon Johnson unveiled his idea for the “Great Society” while giving his State of the Union address.

1976 – In Northern Ireland, the Ulster Volunteer Force shoots and kills six Catholic civilians. The following day, 10 Protestant civilians are shot and killed in an action of retaliation.

1999 – Jesse Ventura, a former professional wrestler and actor, takes office for his first day as governor of Minnesota.

2001 – The Texas 7, which was a group of seven prisoners who escaped from a prison near Dallas, TX, were charged with “unlawful flight” so the manhunt for them could be expanded to be nationwide.

2010 -The world’s tallest building at 2625 feet – the Burj Dubai in the United Arab Emirates – opened its doors.

Famous Birthdays
1809 – Louis Braille, inventor of Braille method of writing
1930 – Don Shula, former coach for Miami Dolphins
1935 – Floyd Patterson, former professional boxer, former Undisputed Heavyweight Champion
1937 – Dyan Cannon, American actress and director (77 Sunset Strip, Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice)
1943 – Doris Kearns Goodwin, American Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and biography
1958 – Andy Borowitz, American comedian and New York Times bestselling author
1960 – Michael Stipe, American musician and lead singer of R.E.M.
1963 – Dave Foley, Canadian comedian and actor (Newsradio, Kids in the Hall)
1965 – Julia Ormond,English actress (Legends of the Fall, First Knight)