On this date in

1582 Pope Gregory XIII implemented the Gregorian calendar.

1824 Mexico became a federal republic.

1830 The state of Belgium was created.

1876 Texas A&M opened, becoming the first public institution of higher education in the state.

1883 The inaugural run of the Orient Express.

1927 Gutzon Borglum began sculpting Mount Rushmore.

1931 The Dick Tracy comic strip made its debut.

1957 Sputnik I, the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth, was launched; Jimmy Hoffa was elected president of the Teamsters Union; "Leave It To Beaver" made its premiere on CBS.

1965 Pope Paul VI arrived in New York, becoming the first Pope to visit the United States.

1988 Evangelist Jim Bakker was indicted on fraud charges.

Born on this date:
King Louis X of France (1289-1316)
Richard Cromwell (1626-1712)
Rutherford B. Hayes (1822-1893)
Damon Runyan (1880-1946)
Buster Keaton (1895-1966)
Frankie Crosetti (1910-2002)
Jan Murray (1916-2006)
George Sidney (1916-2002)
Charlton Heston (1923-2008)

Died on this date:
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606-1669)
Catherine Booth (1829-1890)
Al Smith (1873-1944)
Janis Joplin (1943-1970)
Glenn Gould (1932-1982)
Graham Chapman (1941-1989)
Secretariat (1970-1989)