1942 Dwight D. Eisenhower is named the Anglo-American commander for Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa.

1945 Japan announces its unconditional surrender in World War 2.

1969 British troops arrived Northern Ireland in response to sectarian violence between Protestants and Roman Catholics.

1395 - Utrecht bishop Frederik of Blankenheim occupies Coevorden.

1900 Boxer Rebellion ends.

1248 - Construction of Cologne Cathedral begun.

1743 - Earliest boxing code of rules formulated in England (Jack Broughton)

1777 The Battle of Bennington takes place between militiamen from Massachusetts and New Hampshire and a 700 man detachment from General Burgoyne's army sent to raid Bennington, Vermont for draft animals, horses and other supplies. It was a decisive victory for the rebels with the losses for the American's being 30 killed and 40 wounded and the mixed British force's losses of 207 killed and 700 captured.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bennington

682 - St Leo II begins his reign as Catholic Pope

1790: The capital of the United States moved from New York City to Philadelphia.

293 BC - The oldest known Roman temple to Venus is founded, starting the institution of Vinalia Rustica.

2 - Venus and Jupiter in conjunction - possible astrological explanation for Star of Bethlehem.

959 - Erachus becomes bishop of Luik.

565 - St Columba reported seeing monster in Loch Ness

79 - Mount Vesuvius begins stirring, on the feast day of Vulcan, the Roman god of fire.

1215 - Pope Innocent III declares Magna Carta invalid.