1508: Maximilian I is proclaimed Holy Roman Emperor, the first emperor in centuries not crowned by the Pope

1778: Treaty of Amity and Commerce and the Treaty of Alliance are signed in Paris between the United States and France, the first treaties negotiated by the United States. The first treaty establishes formal diplomatic and commercial relations, and the second forms a defensive alliance.

1819: Stamford Raffles founds Singapore as a British trading post

1840: Treaty of Waitangi is signed between 40 Māori chiefs (later signed by 500) and representatives of the British crown in Waitangi, New Zealand and shares sovereignty between the two groups

1865: General Robert E. Lee is appointed General-in-Chief of the Confederate Armies during the US Civil War

1952: Queen Elizabeth II succeeds King George VI to the British throne and is proclaimed Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms, including Canada, Australia, and New Zealand

1989: Poland’s communist government begins “Round Table” talks with the Solidarity trade union and its leader Lech Wałęsa in an attempt to ease growing social unrest

2023: Powerful earthquakes strike Turkey and Syria, first with a 7.8 magnitude at 4:15 am, 23 kilometers east of Nurdagi, and second with a 7.5 magnitude at 1:24 pm, with many strong aftershocks causing buildings to collapse. The death toll is 53,537 in Turkey and 8,000 in Syria

Source: Onthisday.com