On this day in 1506, Christopher Columbus, the Italian explorer in the service of Spain who "discovered" America in 1492, died in Spain at the age of 55. After 1492, he made three other voyages to the Caribbean in his quest for a sea route to the East. His discovery of favorable winds in both directions opened up the New World to European exploitation.
On this day in 1873, Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis received a U.S. patent for blue jeans with copper rivets.
On this day in 1949, the governor of Taiwan Province Chen Cheng announced the implementation of martial law which lasted over 38 years.
On this day in 1996, Lee Teng-hui and Lien Chan were sworn in as president and vice president of the ROC after they won the country's first presidential election by popular vote.
On this day in 2000, Chen Shui-bian and Annette Lu of the Democratic Progressive Party were inaugurated as president and vice president of the ROC, marking the first peaceful democratic transfer of power in the Chinese world.