On Sept. 8, 1565, a Spanish expedition established the first permanent European settlement in North America at present-day St. Augustine, Fla.
In 1892 an early version of the Pledge of Allegiance appeared in “The Youth’s Companion.”
In 1930 Scotch cellophane tape made its debut, with a sample shipped to a Chicago firm that specialized in wrapping bakery goods in cellophane.
In 1939 President Franklin Roosevelt declared a “limited national emergency” in response to the outbreak of war in Europe.
In 1944 Nazi Germany fired the first of its V2 rockets at London during World War II.
In 1974 President Gerald Ford granted an unconditional pardon to former President Richard Nixon.
In 1985 Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds tied Ty Cobb’s career record for hits with a single for No. 4,191 during a game against the Cubs in Chicago.
In 1995 Bosnia’s warring sides reached a compromise in Geneva.
In 2001 Venus Williams won a second consecutive U.S. Open title by beating her sister Serena.
In 2005 Congress hastened to provide an additional $51.8 billion for relief and recovery from Hurricane Katrina.
