On this day in 1775, US statesman Patrick Henry made a plea for American freedom from Britain, declaring: "Give me liberty or give me death."
On this day in 1918, Lithuania proclaimed its independence.
On this day in 1959, Communist Chinese troops captured Lhasa, capital of Tibet, and engaged in large-scale suppression of rebelling Tibetans.
On this day in 1996, four pairs of candidates competed in the first-ever direct presidential election in Taiwan. Lee Teng-hui and his running mate Lien Chan won with 54% of the vote.
And on this day in 1994, Russian President Boris Yeltsin fired his prime minister and the entire Cabinet.