TODAY IN HISTORY: The War of 1812 officially ends

In 1781, Canada's first Christmas tree was erected in Sorel, north of Montreal, by Baron Friedrich von Riedesel.

In 1814, the War of 1812 officially ended as the United States and Britain signed the Treaty of Ghent in Belgium. Because of a military stalemate, it was agreed to restore prewar boundaries. However, because of the slowness of communications at that time, both countries fought the Battle of New Orleans the following month.

In 1919, American tycoon John D. Rockefeller gave away $100-million — the largest single philanthropic gift to that day. Half of the money was for salary increases for U.S. teachers.

In 1948, Canada officially recognized the state of Israel.

In 1954, singer Johnny Ace, 25, shot himself while playing Russian roulette backstage at a concert in Houston. His song Pledging My Love was a postumous hit the next year.

In 1985, Stevie Wonder turned down an invitation from the White House in order to accept the key to the city of Detroit for recording Don’t Drive Drunk. During the ceremony, Wonder dedicated a moment of silence to the 258 American servicemen killed in a plane crash at Gander, Nfld.

In 1999, Calgary recorded a record temperature of 17.6 degrees.

In 2009, the U.S. Senate passed landmark health-care reform legislation, a nearly $1-trillion bill pledging to extend coverage to an estimated 30 million Americans.