On this date:
In 1653, New Amsterdam -- now New York City -- was incorporated.

In 1848, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, ending the Mexican War, was signed.

In 1876, the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs was formed in New York.

In 1882, Irish poet and novelist James Joyce was born near Dublin.

In 1897, fire destroyed the Pennsylvania state capitol in Harrisburg. (A new statehouse was dedicated¹ on the same site nine years later.)

In 1943, the remainder of Nazi² forces from the Battle of Stalingrad surrendered in a major victory for the Soviets⁴ in World War Two.

In 1945, President Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill departed Malta for the summit in Yalta with Soviet³ leader Josef Stalin.

In 1971, Idi Amin assumed power in Uganda, following a coup⁵ that ousted⁶ President Milton Obote.

In 1980, reports surfaced that the FBI had conducted a sting operation targeting members of Congress using phony Arab businessmen in what became known as "Abscam," a codename protested by Arab-Americans.

In 1996, dancer, actor and choreographer⁷ Gene⁸ Kelly died at his Beverly Hills, California, home; he was 83.

Ten years ago: In a dramatic concession⁹ to South Africa's black majority, President F.W. de Klerk lifted a ban on the African National Congress and promised to free Nelson Mandela.

Five years ago: President Clinton nominated Henry Foster Junior to succeed fired Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders; however, Foster's nomination¹⁰ was later defeated in the Senate. The leaders of Egypt, Israel, Jordan and the Palestinians held an unprecedented¹¹ summit in Cairo to try to revive the Mideast peace process.

One year ago: A federal jury in Portland, Oregon, ordered abortion¹² foes¹³ who had created "wanted" posters and a Web site listing the names and addresses of "baby butchers" to pay $107 million in damages; the defendants¹⁴ promised to appeal.