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1779 - Birth of Francis Scott Key composer (Star-Spangled Banner).

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1785 - Caroline Herschel becomes first woman discoverer of a comet.

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1789 - US Customs begins enforcing Tariff Act.

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1790 - First US census (population of 3,939,214).

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1794 - Whiskey Rebellion begins.

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1798 - Battle of Nile.

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1812 - A rare tornado hits Westchester County, New York.

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1818 - Birth of Maria Mitchell first American woman astronomer on Nantucket Island.

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1819 - Birth of Herman Melville US, author (Moby Dick, Billy Budd).

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1820 - London's Regent's Canal opens.

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