In 1776, British troops captured Fort Washington during the American Revolution.
In 1864, Union General William T. Sherman and his troops began their "March to the Sea" during the Civil War.
In 1885, Canadian rebel Louis Riel was executed for high treason.
In 1907, Oklahoma became the 46th state of the union.
In 1933, the United States and the Soviet Union established diplomatic relations. President Franklin D. Roosevelt sent a telegram to Soviet leader Maxim Litvinov in which he expressed hope that U.S.-Soviet relations would "forever remain normal and friendly."
In 1961, House Speaker Samuel T. Rayburn died in Bonham, Texas, having served as speaker since 1940 except for two terms.