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 1900 about 8,000 people died when a hurricane and tidal wave struck Galveston, Texas.
In 1921 Margaret Gorman of Washington was crowned the first Miss America in Atlantic City.
In 1930 Scotch cellophane tape made its debut as a sample of the tape, invented by Richard Drew of 3M, was shipped to a Chicago firm that specialized in wrapping bakery goods in cellophane.
In 1935 Sen. Huey Long, “The Kingfish” of Louisiana politics, was shot and mortally wounded; he died two days later.
In 1941 the 900-day Siege of Leningrad by German forces began during World War II.
In 1966 the TV series “Star Trek” premiered on NBC.
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 1987 former Democratic presidential candidate Gary Hart admitted during an interview on ABC’s “Nightline” that he had committed adultery and said he had no plans to resume his White House bid.
