1773 – Capt James Cook becomes 1st to cross Antarctic Circle

1946 – United Nations Security Council holds its 1st meeting

1962 – NASA civilian pilot Neil Armstrong takes X-15 to 40,690m

1987 – US President Reagan signs secret order permitting covert sale of arms to Iran

1991 – Iraq fires 8 Scud missiles on Israel

1991 – Operation Desert Storm begins against Saddam Hussein