- 1519: Hernando Cortes lands in Mexico, marking the beginning of the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire.
- 1781: William Herschel discovers Uranus, the first new planet to be discovered in over 70 years.
- 1865: The Confederate States of America officially approve the use of African American soldiers in their army.
- 2013: Pope Francis is elected as the first pope from the Americas, and the first Jesuit pope.