On this date...

Washington's Mason Apron

In 1753, George Washington, a young Virginia planter, becomes a Master Mason, the highest basic rank in the secret fraternity of Freemasonry. The ceremony was held at the Masonic Lodge No. 4 in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Washington was 21 years old

In 1790, Congress authorized the creation of what is today known as the U.S. Coast Guard. It was originally known as the “Revenue Marine” and then the “Revenue Cutter Service.” The current name came about in 1915 when the Revenue Cutter Service was merged with the U.S. Life-Saving Service.  It was established by US Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton.

In 1873, While protecting a railroad survey party in Montana, Custer and his 7th Cavalry clash for the first time with the local Lakota Native Americans, who will defeat them three years later at the Little Big Horn.

In 1892, Lizzie Borden's father and stepmother were murdered in Fall River, Massachusetts; she was later tried for the crime but acquitted.

In 1914, As World War I erupts in Europe, President Woodrow Wilson formally proclaims the neutrality of the United States, a position that a vast majority of Americans favored.

In 1916, the United States reached agreement with Denmark to purchase the Danish Virgin Islands for $25 million in gold.

In 1936, Jesse Owens of the United States won the second of his four gold medals at the Berlin Olympics as he prevailed in the long jump over German Luz Long, who was the first to congratulate him.

In 1942, the United States and Mexico sign the Mexican Farm Labor Agreement, creating what is known as the "Bracero Program." The program, which lasted until 1964, was the largest guest-worker program in U.S. history.

In 1972, Arthur Bremer was convicted and sentenced in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, to 63 years in prison for his attempt on the life of Alabama Gov. George C. Wallace (the sentence was later reduced to 53 years; Bremer was released from prison in 2007).

In 1977, President Jimmy Carter signed a measure establishing the Department of Energy.

In 1987, the Federal Communications Commission voted 4-0 to abolish the Fairness Doctrine, which required radio and television stations to present balanced coverage of controversial issues.

In 2007, The U.S. space probe Phoenix was launched, and a year later it landed on Mars. Among its most-important discoveries was the existence of water ice beneath the planet's surface.