1775 - The battle of bunker hill was fought on this day.
It was the first major battle in the American War of Independence.
The British had a mass of 3000 troops and were guided by three decorated generals, Howe, Clinton and Burgoyne.
The Americans were out-manned and out gunned, and while they did lose the battle eventually, it only happened after the British received embarrassing casualties, including a disproportionate number of officers taken out.
The famous order "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes" summed up the American approach, who hid in waiting until they could shoot at almost point blank.
Running out of ammunition and with no bayonets they had to use the butts of their rifles to defend themselves while they retreated.
1972 - Burglars were arrested at the Watergate building in Washington DC.
This simple break-in put events in motion, which would become some of the most famous in history.
In a scandal going all the way to the top, President Nixon was found to have knowledge of a "slush fund" that was used to finance underhanded "tricks" against the Democrats during Nixon's re-election campaign.
Nixon became the first and only President to resign from office.
To his dying day he maintained his innocence in the affair.
1994 - The worlds most boring, yet famous car chase took place in Las Vegas, Nevada as OJ Simpson fled from police in his white Ford bronco.
He was arrested for the murder of his wife and her friend, but was eventually acquitted of all charges in a case which was known by many as the "trial of the century".
The verdict split America in two, with blacks generally believing the right outcome was achieved, and whites feeling justice wasn't served.