1900 -- A hurricane and tidal wave killed at least 8,000 people in Galveston, Texas.

1941 -- In World War II, the blockade of Leningrad began as the German army encircled the city. The siege lasted until January 1944, with almost one million civilian deaths.

1943 -- U.S. General Dwight Eisenhower announced the unconditional surrender of Italy in World War II.

1945 -- Hideki Tojo, Japanese prime minister during most of World War II, attempted suicide rather than face a war crimes tribunal. He failed and was later found guilty and hanged.

1949 -- Richard Strauss, German composer, died. He was known for his songs and operas, especially Der Rosenkavalier. 1974 -- U.S. President Gerald Ford granted his predecessor Richard Nixon an unconditional pardon for all federal crimes he may have committed while he was in office.

1979 -- Jean Seberg, U.S.-born actress, was found dead in her car in Paris. She had appeared in Saint Joan but was best remembered for her appearances in Breathless and Lilith.

1991 -- The southern Yugoslav republic of Macedonia voted overwhelmingly to become an independent state.

2001 -- India's Mira Nair became the first woman and the first Indian to win the coveted Golden Lion at the Venice film festival with her film ***Monsoon Wedding***.