Today In History

1790: The first successful cotton mill in the United States began operating at Pawtucket, R.I.

1803: The Louisiana Purchase was completed as ownership of the territory was formally transferred from France to the United States during ceremonies in New Orleans.

1860: South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union.

1864: Confederate forces evacuated Savannah, Ga., as Union Gen. William T. Sherman continued his “March to the Sea.”

In 1879: Thomas A. Edison privately demonstrated his incandescent light at Menlo Park, N.J.

1945: The Office of Price Administration announced the end of tire rationing, effective Jan. 1, 1946.

1968: Author John Steinbeck died in New York at age 66.

1976: Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley died at age 74.

1980: The government of the Soviet Union confirmed that former Premier Alexei N. Kosygin had died two days earlier at the age of 76.

1987: More than 3,000 people were killed when the Dona Paz, a Philippine passenger ship, collided with the tanker Vector off Mindoro island.

1989: The United States launched Operation Just Cause, sending troops into Panama to topple the government of Gen. Manuel Noriega.