John Cabot gets the charter to explore "lands unknown" in North America, the writing of Nicolaus Copernicus is banned by the Roman Catholic Church, and it is the birthday of Dora Marsden - with a reading from her magazine "The New Freewoman."

The U.S. Constitution goes into effect, Frances Perkins becomes the first woman to serve as a cabinet member for the U.S. President, and the birthday club includes Antonio Vivaldi, Barbara Newhall Follett, and Khaled Hosseini - with a reading from "Kabuliwala" by Rabindranath Tagore.

The Missouri Compromise passes Congress, the world's first national forest was created in Wyoming, "The Star-Spangled Banner" becomes the U.S. national anthem, and it is the birthday of historian Ron Chernow - with a reading from Alice Dunbar Nelson's "A Carnival Jangle."

The U.S. prohibits importation of slaves and the birthday club includes Sholem Aleichem, Kurt Weill, and Theodor Geisel - with a reading from Aleichem's "On the Fiddle."

Yellowstone becomes the world's first national park and the birthday club includes Ralph Ellison and Harry Belafonte - with a reading from Ellison's "Invisible Man."

The birthday club includes Michel de Montaigne, Ben Hecht, Ketti Frings, and Lemony Snicket (Daniel Handler) - with a reading from Montaigne's "Essays."

England's House of Commons votes to end combat in the American Revolutionary War, Lincoln speaks at Cooper Union, and it is the birthday of John Steinbeck - with a reading from his "Grapes of Wrath."

The Grand Canyon and Grand Teton NP were established, and the birthday club includes Victor Hugo, Levi Strauss, Fats Domino, and Johnny Cash - with a reading from Hugo's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame."

Samuel Colt gets the patent for his revolver, and the birthday club includes Anthony Burgess, Larry Gelbart, George Harrison, and Chelsea Handler - with a reading from Ambrose Bierce.

The first impeachment of a U.S. President, the Zimmerman Telegram changes U.S. perception of WWI, and it is the birthday of Judith Butler - with a reading from their "Undoing Gender."