This day in History.

837
15th recorded perihelion passage of Halley's Comet

1594
Henry IV is crowned king of France in Chartres.

1801
The District of Columbia was placed under the jurisdiction of Congress.

1807
The poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was born.

1827
1st Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans

1844
Dominican Republic gained independence from Haiti.

1861
Russian troops fired on a crowd in Warsaw that was protesting Russian rule over Poland. Five marchers were killed.

1879
Two American chemists announce the discovery of saccharin

1902
Author, John Steinbeck was born.

1908
Star #46 was added to U.S. flag for Oklahoma.

1922
The United States Supreme Court declares the Nineteenth Amendment constitutional, thereby guaranteeing women's voting rights.

1932
Actress, Elizabeth Taylor was born.

1933
German Reichstag building in Berlin was destroyed by fire.

1934
Consumer advocate, Ralph Nader was born.

1939
The Supreme Court outlawed sit-down strikes.

1951
The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution was ratified, limiting the President to two terms.

1972
President Richard M. Nixon and Chinese Premier Chou En-lai issued the Shanghai Communique at the conclusion of Nixon's historic visit to China.

1973
Members of the American Indian Movement occupied the village of Wounded Knee, S.D.

1974
Wife and Mother, Charity Harmless is born!

1974
The first issue of People magazine, a weekly publication featuring entertainment and social-interest news, hits the newsstands.

1980
Former President's daughter, Chelsea Clinton was born

1980
Singer, Josh Groban was born.

1986
The U.S. Senate approved telecasts of its debates on a trial basis.

1990
The Exxon Corporation is indicted on five criminal charges relating to the 1989 Alaskan oil spill.

1991
Kuwait was liberated in the Gulf War.

1997
Divorce became legal in Ireland.

1997
Legislation banning most handguns in Britain went into effect.

1998
With the approval of Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's House of Lords agreed to end 1,000 years of male preference by giving a monarch's first-born daughter the same claim to the throne as a first-born son.

2002
Alicia Keys won five Grammy Awards for her debut album, ''Songs in A Minor,'' tying the record for a female artist held by Lauryn Hill and since tied by Norah Jones and Beyonce.

2003
A design by architect Daniel Libeskind is selected to be built on the former site of the twin towers of New York City's World Trade Center.

2003
Fred Rogers, of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, died.