On this date
In 1649, the Maryland Toleration Act, providing for freedom of worship for all Christians, was passed by the Maryland assembly.
In 1789, John Adams was sworn in as the first vice president of the United States.
In 1836, an army of Texans led by Sam Houston defeated the Mexicans at San Jacinto, assuring Texas independence.
In 1918, Manfred von Richthofen, 25, the German ace known as the “Red Baron” who was believed to have downed 80 enemy aircraft during World War I, was himself shot down and killed while in action over France.
In 1942, the first edition of “The Stranger,” Albert Camus’ highly influential absurdist novel, was published in Nazi-occupied Paris by Gallimard.
In 1962, the Century 21 Exposition, also known as the Seattle World’s Fair, began a six-month run.
In 1998, astronomers announced in Washington that they had discovered possible signs of a new family of planets orbiting a star 220 lightyears away, the clearest evidence to date of worlds forming beyond our solar system.
Ten years ago: President George W. Bush opened a two-day summit in New Orleans with Mexican President Felipe Calderon and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Five years ago: Joe Scarborough, a 50-year-old self-employed electrical contractor, rolled the first 900 series in Professional Bowlers Association history — three straight perfect games.
One year ago: A San Francisco power outage blamed on the massive failure of a circuit breaker that sparked a fire at a power substation stranded people in elevators and left tens of thousands in the dark.