Also on this day: Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei observes the planet Neptune, but mistakes it for a star. (Neptune wouldn't officially be discovered until 1846 by Johann Gottfried Galle.)Queen Mary II of England dies after more than five years of joint rule with her husband, King William III.John C.
Calhoun becomes the first vice president of the United States to resign, stepping down because of differences with President Andrew Jackson.
Iowa becomes the 29th state to be admitted to the Union.The Lumiere brothers, Auguste and Louis, hold the first public showing of their movies in Paris.
A major earthquake followed by a tsunami devastates the Italian city of Messina, killing at least 70,000 people. Congress officially recognizes the.
Read more on foxnews.com