1860

10 days after South Carolina seceded from the Union, the state militia seized the United States Army arsenal in Charleston.

1896

José Rizal, whose writings inspired the Philippine Revolution, was executed by Spanish army troops after being convicted of rebellion, sedition and conspiracy.

1903

More than 600 people died when fire broke out at the recently opened Iroquois Theater in Chicago.

1922

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) officially came into existence.

2015

Bill Cosby was charged with drugging and sexually assaulting a woman at his suburban Philadelphia home in 2004.

2006

Former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein was executed by hanging after being convicted of crimes against humanity by the Iraqi High Tribunal.

Birthdays

Baseball Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax is 89. Singer-author Patti Smith is 78. TV personality Meredith Vieira is 71. Actor Sheryl Lee Ralph is 68. TV commentator Sean Hannity is 63. Golfer Tiger Woods is 49. Actor Eliza Dushku is 44. NBA star LeBron James is 40. Singer-actress Andra Day is 40. Pop-rock singer Ellie Goulding (GOL’-ding) is 38.