1177: Battle of Montgisard: Baldwin IV of Jerusalem defeats Saladin and a larger Ayyubid force

1783: Britain evacuates New York City, its last military position in the United States

1839: Cyclone slams southeastern India with high winds and a 40-foot storm surge, destroying the city of Coringa. Storm waves sweep inland, destroying 20,000 ships and killing an estimated 300,000 people.

1905: The first telegraph transmitter with a one-mile range is advertised in “Scientific American” for $8.50

1986: Iran-Contra affair erupts as President Reagan reveals a secret arms deal

Source: Onthisday.com