TODAY IN HISTORY: 830,000 killed in Chinese quake

In 1536, the Argentine city of Buenos Aires was founded by Pedro de Mendoza of Spain.

In 1556, a devastating earthquake killed an estimated 830,000 people in China.

In 1653, New Amsterdam — now New York City — was incorporated.

In 1848, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, ending the Mexican-American War, was signed.

In 1876, organized baseball launched with the formation of the National League. Original teams were in Philadelphia, Hartford, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Louisville, St. Louis and New York.

In 1912, Frederick R. Law jumped with a parachute from the torch of the Statue of Liberty in a stunt filmed by Pathe News.

In 1942, Ottawa proclaimed western British Columbia a "protected area" and soon began moving Japanese people inland. The measure was intended to quell fears of Japanese people assisting an invasion during the Second World War. Within weeks, the action was expanded to include all those of Japanese origin. They were treated as aliens and deprived of their property. Decades later, the federal government apologized to Canada's Japanese community.

In 1943, the remainder of Nazi forces from the "Battle of Stalingrad" surrendered in a major victory for the Soviet Union in the Second World War.

In 1953, vitamin-enriched white bread went on sale in Canada.

In 1965, boxer Cassius Clay became a Muslim, adopting the name Muhammad Ali.

In 1971, Idi Amin assumed power in Uganda following a coup that ousted President Milton Obote. Amin's reign of terror over the African nation lasted eight years.

In 1977, Ian Turnbull of the Toronto Maple Leafs set an NHL record for defencemen by scoring five goals in a game against Detroit.

In 1988, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney fired Supply and Services Minister Michel Cote for not reporting a private loan from a company doing government business.

In 1990, South Africa announced the legalization of the African National Congress and other political organizations that had been outlawed.

In 1996, the Canadian Football League became all-Canadian again when four American franchises folded. The Grey Cup-champion Baltimore Stallions moved to Montreal to become the Alouettes.

In 1999, the death of groundhog Wiarton Willie was announced. One of Canada’s rodent weather forecasters had been emerging from his burrow in Wiarton, Ont., for 10 years to predict how much longer the winter would last.

In 2003, Vaclav Havel stepped down after more than a decade as president of the Czech Republic.

In 2014, the Seattle Seahawks won their first Super Bowl, punishing Denver 43-8 with their No. 1-ranked defence that disarmed Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning and the highestscoring offence in league history.

In 2016, NDP candidate Melanie Mark became the first indigenous woman elected to the B.C. legislature after winning a byelection.

In 2018, Andrew Wilkinson, 60, a doctor, lawyer, Rhodes Scholar and former cabinet minister, was elected as the new B.C. Liberal leader.

In 2020, groundhogs delivered mixed views on whether winter would continue or be cut short. Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania and Wiarton Willie in Ontario did not see their shadows, signifying an early spring was coming, but Nova Scotia’s Shubenacadie Sam saw his shadow, which indicated six more weeks of winter.