1857

The U.S. Supreme Court, in the Dred Scott v. Sandford decision, ruled 7-2 that Scott, an enslaved person, was not an American citizen and therefore could not sue for his freedom in Federal court; it also ruled that slavery could not be banned from any Federal territory. The decision deepened the national divide over slavery in the years leading up to the Civil War.

1869

Chemist Dmitri Mendeleev introduced his concept of a periodic table of elements at a meeting of the Russian Chemical Society in St. Petersburg.

1912

Oreo cookies were first introduced by the National Biscuit Company.

1964

Heavyweight boxing champion Cassius Clay took a new name given to him by Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammed: Muhammad Ali.

1970

A bomb being built inside a Greenwich Village townhouse in New York by members of the Weather Underground militant leftist group accidentally exploded, destroying the house and killing three group members.

Birthdays

Former FBI and CIA director William Webster is 101. Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan is 99. Actor-comedian Tom Arnold is 66. Actor-comedian D.L. Hughley is 62. Basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal is 53. Rapper-producer Tyler, the Creator is 34.