"The Hobbit" is published for the first time, Jimmy Hendrix becomes Jimi, Sandra Day O'Connor is confirmed as the first female Supreme Court justice, and a track superstar dies, all on this day.
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New York Public Library Digital Collection
1776: Part of New York City burns shortly after being occupied by British forces during the American Revolutionary War. The fire crosses Broadway near Beaver Street, and then burns most of the city between Broadway and the Hudson River. Among the buildings destroyed is Trinity Church.