1461: Empire of Trebizond surrenders to forces of Sultan Mehmet II – last Byzantine Empire remnant to fall. Emperor David exiled and later murdered.

1620: Mayflower sets sail from Southampton, England, with 102 Pilgrims

1900: The Boxer Rebellion: In China, the Empress, her family and court retainers flee while foreign troops move through Peking in an attempt to quell the rebellion

1947: India gains independence from Great Britain, remains a dominion until 1950

1998: Omagh Bombing in Northern Ireland, the worst terrorist incident of The Troubles, kills 29 people and injures about 220

Source: Onthisday.com