1643

Louis XIV became King of France at age 4 upon the death of his father, Louis XIII.

1804

The Lewis and Clark expedition to explore the Louisiana Territory and the Pacific Northwest left camp near present-day Hartford, Illinois.

1940

The Netherlands surrendered to invading German forces during World War II.

1948

According to the current-era calendar, the independent state of Israel was proclaimed in Tel Aviv by David Ben-Gurion, who became its first prime minister; U.S. President Harry S. Truman immediately recognized the new nation.