On this date...

In 1790, Benjamin Franklin passed away in Philadelphia, PA

In 1861, the Virginia State Convention voted to secede from the Union

In 1871, the Texas legislature approved $76,000 in funding for the state's first public institution of higher education, known then as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas—today as Texas A&M University. It would open for operations in October 1876 with an initial class of 106 students and six faculty. (Texas Scorecard)

In 1907, Ellis Island sees its busiest day when it processes 11,747 immigrants. This is more than double their usual daily process rate of 5,000.

In 1961, the Bay of Pigs invasion begins.

In 1969, Sirhan Sirhan was convicted of assassinating Senator Robert F. Kennedy

In 1970, Appollo 13 entered the earth's atmosphere after a having an oxygen tank explode potentially endangering the lives of the astronauts onboard.