Christopher Columbus discovered Puerto Rico on his second voyage.
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One of the greatest speeches of all American history, The Gettysburg Address, was given by Abraham Lincoln.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, based on J.K. Rowling's 2007 fantasy novel, was released worldwide.
Pelé, the legendary Brazilian soccer star, scored his 1,000th goal.
The British poet Alfred Lord Tennyson became Britain's Poet Laureate.
The Great Flood of St Petersburg killed 10,000 people and affected almost half a million more.
