Source: HistoryNet.com
0044: Julius Caesar is assassinated by high-ranking Roman senators.
1493: Christopher Columbus returns to Spain after his first voyage to the New World.
1615: William Baffin sails as pilot and mapmaker in the Discovery on its first voyage to Hudson Bay.
1778: James Cook reaches the west coast of Vancouver Island with ships HMS Resolution and HMS Discovery while on the way to search for a Northwest Passage from the Pacific. He names the site Friendly Cove after a warm reception from local Nuu-chah-nulth (Nootka) people.
1955: The U.S. Air Force unveils the first self-guided missile.
1956: The first performance of "My Fair Lady," starring Julie Andrews and Rex Harrison, takes place on Broadway.
1960: Ten nations meet in Geneva to discuss disarmament.
1967: A special joint committee of the Senate and House of Commons unanimously recommends that the government adopt "O Canada" as the music of the national anthem of Canada.
1968: The U.S. mint halts the practice of buying and selling gold.
1991: Four Los Angeles police are charged in the beating of Rodney King.