1964
"The Greatest" takes the title
Muhammad Ali, then known as Cassius Clay, became world heavyweight boxing champion for the first time by knocking out Sonny Liston in Miami Beach.
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1570
Elizabeth I, queen of England, was excommunicated by Pope Pius V.
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1836
Samuel Colt patented the first revolving barrel multishot firearm.
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1870
Hiram Revels became the first black United States senator, taking over the term of Jefferson Davis.
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1901
J.P. Morgan formed U.S. Steel Corporation, the first billion-dollar corporation in the world.
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1948
Communists took control of the government in Czechoslovakia.
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1983
Tennessee Williams, American playwright, died.
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1986
President Ferdinand Marcos fled the Philippines; Corazon Aquino took over the office.
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1990
Violeta Chamorro was elected president of Nicaragua, a victory for opponents of the Sandinistas.
