On this day in 1854, U.S. Navy Commodore Matthew C. Perry and the Tokugawa shogunate signed the Convention of Kanagawa, forcing the opening of Japanese ports to American trade.
On this day in 1931, TWA Flight 599 crashed in Chase County, Kansas, US, and killed eight people, including football coach Knute Rockne, stimulating advances in aircraft design and development.
On this day in 1964, Brazilian Armed Forces led an overthrow of Brazilian President João Goulart and established a military government that would last for 21 years.