1792

President George Washington signed an act creating the United States Post Office Department, the predecessor of the U.S. Postal Service.

1905

The U.S. Supreme Court, in Jacobson v. Massachusetts, upheld, 7-2, compulsory vaccination laws intended to protect the public’s health.

1962

Astronaut John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth as he flew aboard Project Mercury’s Friendship 7 spacecraft, which circled the globe three times in a flight lasting 4 hours, 55 minutes and 23 seconds before splashing down safely in the Atlantic Ocean.

1998

American Tara Lipinski became the youngest Olympic figure skating gold medalist when she won the ladies’ title at the Nagano Olympic Winter Games; American Michelle Kwan won the silver.

2003

A fire sparked by pyrotechnics broke out during a concert by the rock group Great White at The Station nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island, killing 100 people and injuring over 200 others.

Birthdays

Racing Hall of Famer Roger Penske is 88. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is 83.Basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley is 62. Model Cindy Crawford is 59. Comedian-TV host Trevor Noah is 41. Singer Rihanna is 37.