On this day...

William Shakespeare

In 1564, William Shakespeare was born in Stratford on Avon, England. There are 192 surviving plays and sonnets. He would also die on this date in 1616.

In 1635, the Boston Grammar School which would be renamed the Boston Latin School opened as the first public education style school in the then colonies.

In 1775, the Massachusetts Provincial Congress voted to raise a volunteer force of 13,600 men.

In 1778, John Paul Jones leads an American raid on Whitehaven, England.

In 1789, President Washington and Martha Washington moved into the first executive mansion located in New York City and called Franklin House.

In 1791, James Buchanan, 15th President of the United States, was born in Pennsylvania.

In 1914, Wrigley field held its first MLB game.

In 1968, Leftist students take over several buildings and occupy them for a week at Columbia University.

In 1975, President Gerald Ford announces that the war is finished in Vietnam as far as Americans were concerned.