On this day in history

Polish cavalry officer Casimir Pulaski dies of wounds suffered at the Siege of Savannah, fighting for American independence.

Source: Wikipedia

Saturday Night Live premieres on NBC with George Carlin hosting, launching the longest running sketch show in television history.

Source: HistoryNet

Astronaut Kathryn Sullivan becomes the first American woman to walk in space during the Challenger shuttle mission.

Source: HistoryNet

Televised confirmation hearings begin for Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas, days before Anita Hill testifies.

Source: HistoryNet

Catholic forces crush the Swiss Protestants at the Second Battle of Kappel, and reformer Huldrych Zwingli is killed on the field.

Source: Wikipedia

The Boer republics declare war on Britain, beginning the Second Boer War in South Africa.

Source: HistoryNet

Pope John XXIII opens the Second Vatican Council, the largest gathering of Catholic bishops in history, setting the Church on a reforming course.

Source: HistoryNet

Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev meet in Reykjavik, Iceland, and nearly agree to abolish all nuclear weapons.

Source: Wikipedia