August 13
1521 - Present day Mexico City was captured by Spanish conqueror Hernando Cortez from the Aztec Indians.
1704 - The Battle of Blenheim was fought during the War of the Spanish Succession, resulting in a victory for English and Austrian forces.
1792 - French revolutionaries took the entire French royal family and imprisoned them.
1784 - The United States Legislature met for the final time in Annapolis, MD.
1846 - The American Flag was raised for the first time in Los Angeles, CA.
1867 - "Under the Gaslight", by Augustin Daly, opened in New York City, NY.
1876 - The Reciprocity Treaty between the U.S. and Hawaii was ratified.
1889 - A patent for a coin-operated telephone was issued to William Gray.
1912 - The first experimental radio license was issued to St. Joseph's College in Philadelphia, PA.
1931 - The first community hospital in the U.S. was dedicated in Elk City, OK.
1932 - Adolf Hitler refused to take the post of vice-chancellor of Germany. He said he was going to hold out "for all or nothing."
1934 - Al Capp's comic strip "L'il Abner" made its debut in newspapers.
1942 - Henry Ford unveiled his "Soybean Car." It was a plastic-bodied car that weighed about 1000 lbs. less than a steel car.
1942 - Walt Disney's "Bambi" opened at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, NY.
Disney movies, music and books
1959 - In New York, ground was broken on the $320 million Verrazano Narrows Bridge.
1960 - "Echo I," a balloon satellite, allowed the first two-way telephone conversation by satellite to take place.
1961 - Berlin was divided by a barbed wire fence to halt the flight of refugees. Two days later work on the Berlin Wall began.
1979 - Lou Brock (St. Louis Cardinals) got his 3,000th career hit.
1985 - The engagement of Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenagger was announced.
1986 - United States Football League standout Herschel Walker signed to play with the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League.
1990 - Iraq transferred $3-4 billion in bullion, currency, and other goods seized from Kuwait to Baghdad.
1992 - Woody Allen began legal action to win custody of his three children. A judge ruled against Allen in 1993.
1994 - It was reported that aspirin not only helps reduce the risk of heart disease, but also helps prevent colon cancer.
