- 1766 – American Revolution: The British Parliament repeals the Stamp Act.
- 1850 – American Express is founded by Henry Wells and William Fargo.
- 1874 – Hawaii signs a treaty with the United States granting exclusive trading rights.
- 1893 – Former Governor General Lord Stanley pledges to donate a silver challenge cup, later named after him, as an award for the best hockey team in Canada; originally presented to amateur champions, the Stanley Cup has been awarded to the top pro team since 1910, and since 1926, only to National Hockey League teams.
- 1968 – Gold standard: The U.S. Congress repeals the requirement for a gold reserve to back US currency.
For more on the Stamp Act, read The Stamp Act Crisis: Prologue to Revolution.