On this day in 1805, in the Battle of Trafalgar, a British fleet led by Vice
Admiral Lord Nelson defeated a combined French and Spanish fleet off
the coast of Spain. That signaled almost the end of French maritime power and left Britain's navy unchallenged until the 20th century.
On this day in 1895, the Republic of Formosa collapsed as Japanese forces invaded.
On this day in 1947, the first National Assembly elections in the Republic of China were held.
On this day in 1990, the Straits Exchange Foundation, a Taiwan quasi-official organization dealing with cross-Taiwan Strait technical affairs, was established.