1520: Martin Luther publicly burns papal edict demanding he recant

1684: Isaac Newton’s derivation of Kepler’s laws from his theory of gravity, contained in the paper De motu corporum in gyrum, is read to the Royal Society by Edmond Halley

1799: Metric system first adopted in France

1901: First Nobel Peace Prizes awarded to Red Cross founder Jean Henri Dunant and peace activist Frederic Passy

1936: Edward VIII signs Instrument of Abdication, giving up the British throne to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson

1964: Nobel Peace Prize presented to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Oslo, Norway

Source: Onthisday.com