1809: Tragically, Meriwether Lewis, known for his role in the renowned Lewis and Clark expedition, was discovered dead in a Tennessee inn. The circumstances pointed to an apparent suicide, and he was only 35 years old.

1614: A group of merchants from Amsterdam and Hoorn came together to establish the New Netherland Co., with the aim of initiating fur trading in North America.

1884: New York City welcomed the birth of Eleanor Roosevelt, who would go on to become a future first lady and a prominent figure in American history.

1944: The highly regarded film noir classic "Laura" made its premiere in New York City, captivating audiences with the performances of Gene Tierney and Dana Andrews.

1958: The United States launched the unmanned deep-space probe Pioneer 1, which embarked on a mission to orbit the moon.

1968: The inaugural manned Apollo mission, Apollo 7, took flight with astronauts Wally Schirra, Donn Fulton Eisele, and R. Walter Cunningham on board. This marked a significant milestone in the Apollo space program.

1974: President Gerald R. Ford took a significant step in ensuring the safe and responsible use of nuclear materials in the United States. He established the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to oversee civilian nuclear activities.

1975: A groundbreaking moment in American television occurred as the TV sketch comedy and variety show, Saturday Night Live, made its debut on NBC.

1984: A historic moment unfolded as Challenger astronaut Kathryn D. Sullivan embarked on a spacewalk, becoming the first American woman to achieve this feat. Alongside Mission Specialist David C. Leestma, they spent three and a half hours outside the shuttle.

1986: President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev embarked on a crucial two-day discussion in Reykjavik, Iceland. The talks centered around arms control and human rights, highlighting the importance of these issues on the global stage.

1991: The confirmation hearings of Clarence Thomas, a nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, took a dramatic turn as American lawyer Anita Hill testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Hill accused Thomas of sexual harassment, sparking a polarizing debate that divided the nation. Despite the controversy, Thomas was narrowly confirmed with a vote of 52-48.

2002: Former President Jimmy Carter received an esteemed honor as he was named the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. 

2002: A significant moment unfolded in the U.S. Congress as a bill granting broad authority to U.S. President George W. Bush to use force against Iraq was passed by a wide margin. 

2005: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers achieved a major milestone as they completed the pumping out of the New Orleans metropolitan area. This region had been devastated by Hurricane Katrina six weeks earlier and was further inundated by Hurricane Rita.

2006: In a historic development in the U.S. war on terrorism, the charge of treason was utilized for the first time. Adam Yehiye Gadahn, also known as "Azzam the American," who had appeared in propaganda videos for al-Qaida, faced this grave accusation. 

2017: The Boy Scouts of America made a groundbreaking announcement, revealing their decision to admit girls into the Cub Scouts starting in 2018. Additionally, a new program based on the Boy Scout curriculum would be established for older girls, providing them with the opportunity to aspire to the prestigious Eagle Scout rank. 

2021: The resignation of Jon Gruden as coach of the Las Vegas Raiders made headlines after reports surfaced about offensive messages he had written years earlier. These messages contained derogatory terms targeting Blacks, gays, and women. 

2022: NASA made a groundbreaking announcement, revealing the success of a spacecraft that collided with a small, harmless asteroid located millions of miles away. This mission aimed to shift the asteroid's orbit, serving as a crucial test to develop strategies for defending against potentially dangerous asteroids in the future.