Ralph Waldo Ellison 1914 - Author, essayist
- 1692 - In Salem Village, in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the Salem witch trials began. Four women were the first to be charged.
- 1845 - U.S. President Tyler signed the congressional resolution to annex the Republic of Texas.
- 1873 - E. Remington and Sons of Ilion, NY, began the manufacturing the first practical typewriter.
- 1932 - The 22-month-old son of Charles and Anne Lindbergh was kidnapped. The child was found dead in May.
- 1954 - Five U.S. congressmen were wounded when four Puerto Rican nationalists opened fire from the gallery of the U.S. House of Representatives.
