1284 The Statute of Rhuddlan: England annexes the Principality of Wales

1575 Battle of Tukaroi: The Mughal Emperor Akbar defeats the Bengalis

1637 Battle of the Rheinfeld: Weimarans defeat the Imperialists

1746 The '45: Bonnie Prince Charlie's forces occupy Inverness Castle

1776 US squadron under Commo Esek Hopkins attacks Nassau, Bahamas: First American overseas expedition

1801 Following the end of the 'Quasi-War' with France, Congress reduces the Navy to 14 ships.

1815 Second Barbary War: US declares war on Algiers for piratical acts, three years after the Algerians declared war on the US

1836 Skirmish at Agua Dulce: Mexicans defeat Texians

1837 US recognizes the Republic of Texas

1847 Col Alexander W. Doniphan captures the Mexican mint at Chihuahua

1847 Col. Franklin Pierce is promoted to Brig Gen of Volunteers

1852 Battle of Caseros: Argentine Dictator-President Juan de Rosas (c. 23,000) is defeated by Justo de Urquiza's Argentine-Uraguayan-Brazilian forces (c. 25,000) -- the largest battle in the Americas until the U.S. Civil War

1855 Congress appropriates $30,000 to buy camels for the US Army

1861 Russian Tsar Alexander II abolishes serfdom

1863 The US Congress enacts and Pres. Lincoln signs the "Enrollment Act," introducing federal conscription

1863 USN bombards Fort McAllister, Ga.

1865 Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, & Abandoned Lands established

1875 Premiere of Georges Bizet's "Carmen" at the Opéra Comique, Paris

1878 Treaty of San Stefano: "Greater" Bulgaria carved out of Turkey

1883 Congress creates the "New Navy," authorizing four steel vessels

1899 George Dewey is promoted to Admiral of the Navy

1915 Congress authorizes a Chief of Naval Operations (CNO)

1915 Congress creates the Naval Reserve

1917 Abdication of Nicholas II, the last tsar [OS]

1918 Russia withdraws from WW I, signs Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany

1924 Deposition of Abdul Mejid II (Nov 19, 1922-March 3, 1924) ends the 1300-year old Islamic caliphate

1931 Congress adopts "The Star-Spangled Banner" as the national anthem

1942 Action South of Java: Japanese warships sink c. 20 Allied ships, including US gunboat 'Ashville'; thousands of civilians killed.

1942 Broome, Australia: heavy damage from a Japanese air raid

1942 RAF bombs the Renault factory at Billancourt, France, 367 die.

1943 Battle of the Bismarck Sea: Japanese transports hit by Allied aircraft and ships

1943 London: A German bomb hits a crowded shelter, 173 die

1944 Los Negros: Japanese banzai attack.

1945 Netherlands: Liberation of Roermond and Venlo

1945 RAF bombs The Hague in error, 511 die

1961 Accession of King Hassan II of Morocco (1961-1999)

1968 Terrorists bomb Greek, Portuguese, & Spanish embassies in The Hague

1991 Latvia & Estonia vote to become independent of the USSR