1841 – President William Henry Harrison died at the White House after one month in office. He had served as Governor of the Indiana Territory. As a General, he had led soldiers at the Battle of Tippecanoe and in the War of 1812.
1865 – Albion Fellows Bacon was born in Evansville. Sometimes called “the mother of Indiana housing laws,” she gained a national reputation as a social reformer and author, best known for her efforts in improving living conditions.
1917 – The United States declared war on Germany, leading the nation into World War I. Indiana sent more than 130,000 soldiers. The World War Memorial in Indianapolis was constructed to honor the more than 3,000 who did not return home.
1968 – Robert F. Kennedy, in Indianapolis on a campaign tour, announced the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to a crowd at 17th and Broadway. His impassioned plea for peace on that night is considered one of the best public addresses of the era.
1990 – Over 45,000 attended the Farm Aid Concert at the Hoosier Dome. Willie Nelson headlined an all-star line-up that included Bonnie Raitt, Garth Brooks, Don Henley and Elton John, who dedicated “Candle in the Wind” to Ryan White, who died the next day at Riley Hospital.