- The Dow Jones experienced its second-largest percentage drop in history. (1987) Called Black Monday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 22.61 percent, or 508 points. The crash was part of a domino effect of world-wide market crashes, all starting with the collapse of markets in Hong Kong. The largest percentage drop of the Dow Jones occurred on December 12, 1914, when it dropped 24.39 percent.
- Saddam Hussein's trial began. (2005) Hussein was tried by the Iraqi Special Tribunal along with seven others for crimes committed against humanity, including genocide. He was later sentenced to die by hanging and was executed on December 30, 2006.
- US President Dwight D. Eisenhower placed an embargo on all exports to Cuba. (1960) The embargo was imposed because Cuba took over US property and businesses in Cuba and was becoming increasingly cooperative with the Soviet Union. The embargo lasted in some variation for several years.
- British Army Commander, Lord Cornwallis, officially surrendered to American forces, effectively ending American Revolutionary War fighting. (1781) Charles O'Hara, a general serving under Lord Cornwallis, handed over the commander's sword in a symbol of surrender. Negotiations for peace began shortly thereafter in 1782.
- The first Blockbuster video rental store opened in the US. (1985) The first store opened in Dallas, Texas, with an inventory of 8,000 VHS movie tapes available for rent.
- After 15 years in prison, the "Guildford Four" were found innocent and released from prison. (1989) The Court of Appeal in England overturned the convictions of Patrick Armstrong, Gerard Conlon, Carole Richardson and Paul Hill for pub bombings in Guildford, England. The wrongful convictions are considered one of the worst miscarriages of justice in England's history.
- The first Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court was sworn into office. (1789) John Jay, the first US Chief Justice, was nominated by US President George Washington.
- The first code of rules for American football were drafted. (1873) The rules were not drafted by an official sports organization, but by four universities — Columbia, Princeton, Rutgers and Yale.
- The first antibiotic to fight the tuberculosis bacteria was discovered. (1943) The drug, streptomycin, was discovered by Albert Schatz, a graduate research student at Rutgers University.
- The first legal discotheque in the world opened its doors. (1959) Discotheques had popped up in the underground entertainment worlds in France during the 1940s after the Nazis banned American music and dancing, but the first to open legally occurred when a band didn't show up for its gig. To keep the Scotch-Club open in Aachen, Germany, club owner Klaus Quirini grabbed a record player and started spinning tunes, effectively becoming the first official discotheque DJ as well. The format was popular and quickly spread to other venues.