1461 - Edward IV secures his claim to the English thrown, defeating Henry VI at the battle of Towdon.
1638 - A permanent European colony is established in what is now Delaware.
1644 - At the Battle of Alresford, Parlimentatians secure a victory during the English Civil War.
1847 - U.S. troops under General Winfield Scott seize the Mexican stronghold at Vera Cruz.
1867 - The United States purchases Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million.
1879 - British troops of the 90th Light Infantry Regiment repulse 20,000 Zulu tribesmen in northwest Zululand in the Battle of Kambula.
1884 - At the Battle of El Teb, the British defeat Osman Digna's Mahdists in a non-stop five hour battle.
1913 - The German government announces it is increasing taxes in order to finance the new military budget.
1916 - The Italians scrap the fifth attack on Isonzo.
1936 - Italy firebombs Harar, in Ethiopia.
1941 - The British sink five Italian warships in the Mediterranean.
1951 - The Chinese reject Gen. Douglas MacArthur's offer for a truce in Korea.
1952 - President Harry Truman removes himself from the presidential race.
1961 - The 23rd amendment, which allows Washington, D.C. residents to vote for president, is ratified.
1962 - Cuba opens the trial of the Bay of Pigs invaders.
1966 - Leonid Brezhenev becomes First Secretary of the Soviet Communist Party, denouncing what he calls the US policy of agression in Vietnam.
1967 - France launches its first nuclear submarine.
1971 - Lt. William L. Calley Jr. is found guilty for his actions in the My Lai massacre.
1973 - The last U.S. troops withdraw from South Vietnam.
1975 - Egyptian president Anwar Sadat declares that the Suez Canal will reopen on June 5, 1975.
1976 - Eight Ohio National Guardsmen are indicted for shooting four Kent State students during an anti-war protest on May 4, 1970.

Birthdays
1790 - John Tyler, 10th President of the United States.
1875 - Lou Henry Hoover, first lady to President Herbert Hoover.
1916 - Eugene McCarthy, U.S. Senator / presidential candidate.

Passings
1058 - Stephen IX [Frederik van Lotharingen], 1st Belgian Pope (1057-58)
1745 - Robert Walpole, 1st British premier (1722-42), dies at 68
1792 - King Gustav III, King of Sweden (1771-92), dies of wounds
1839 - Bernardus JC Dibbets, Dutch baron/General-Major (Maastricht), dies at 56
1847 - Auguste De Polignac, premier France, dies at 66
1912 - Robert F. Scott, British pole explorer (Antarctica)
1959 - Barthelemy Boganda, Central African Republic's 1st President
1981 - Eric Williams, Prime Minister (Trinidad & Tobago), dies at 79
1982 - Walter Hallstein, West German politician (CDU, H-doctrine), dies at 80
1991 - Lee Atwater, political strategist (R), dies of brain tumor at 40
1994 - William Natcher (Representative-KY), dies at 84
1995 - James Eric Storrar, fighter Pilot, dies at 74

Reported Missing in Action
1965
Hume, Kenneth E., USN (OH); F8D crashed at sea - Killed, body not recovered

1969
Hess, Frederick W., USAF (MO); F4D shot down

1972
The following USAF personnel reported MIA when their AC130A was shot down:
Brauner, Henry P. (NJ); navigator

Caniford, James K. (MD); crew

Castillo, Richard (TX); crew - remains returned November, 1986

Halpin, Richard C. (CA); crew - remains returned March, 1986

Miller, Curtis D. (TX); crew

Paulson, Merlyn L. (ND); crew - remains returned March, 1986

Pearce, Edwin J. (PA); crew - remains returned March, 1986 - family rejects ID

Ramsower, Irving B. II (TX); pilot - remains returned March, 1986

Simmons, Robert E. (NY); crew - remains returned March, 1986 - family rejects ID

Smith, Edward D., Jr. (NY); crew - remains returned March, 1986

Stephenson, Howard D. (MA); crew

Todd, William A. (NY); crew - remains returned March, 1986 - ID'd September, 1986

Wanzel, Charles J. III (NY); pilot - remains returned March, 1986 - ID'd July, 1986

Young, Barclay B. (FL); crew

1975
Gregory, Marie; left Saigon with fake passport Autust, 1975

Gregory, Philippe; left Saigon with fake passport August, 1975

Gouglemann, Tucker, Civilian - CIA; remains returned by SRV September, 1977