Today In History

In 1779: Polish nobleman Casimir Pulaski was killed while fighting for American independence during the Revolutionary War Battle of Savannah, Ga.

In 1811: the first steam-powered ferryboat, the Juliana, was put into operation between New York City and Hoboken, N.J.

In 1890: The Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in Washington, D.C.

In 1962: Pope John XXIII convened the first session of the Roman Catholic Church’s 21st Ecumenical Council, also known as Vatican II.

In 1968: Apollo 7, the first Apollo mission with astronauts, was launched with Wally Schirra, Donn Fulton Eisele and R. Walter Cunningham aboard.

In 1984: Space shuttle Challenger astronaut Kathy Sullivan became the first American woman to walk in space.

In 1985: Arab-American activist Alex Odeh was killed by a bomb blast in California.