TODAY IN HISTORY - JUNE 15TH

1775 – American Revolutionary War: George Washington is appointed commander-in-chief of the Continental Army.

1776 – Delaware Separation Day: Delaware votes to suspend government under the British Crown and separate officially from Pennsylvania.

1805 – William B. Ogden, American businessman and politician, 1st Mayor of Chicago (d. 1877) is born.

1836 – Arkansas is admitted as the 25th U.S. state.

1844 – Charles Goodyear receives a patent for vulcanization, a process to strengthen rubber.

1846 – The Oregon Treaty establishes the 49th parallel as the border between the United States and Canada, from the Rocky Mountains to the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

1849 – James K. Polk, American lawyer and politician, 11th President of the United States (b. 1795) dies.

1864 – Arlington National Cemetery is established when 200 acres (0.81 km²) around Arlington Mansion (formerly owned by Confederate General Robert E. Lee) are officially set aside as a military cemetery by U.S. Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton.

1911 – Wilbert Awdry, English author, co-created Thomas the Tank Engine (d. 1997) is born.

1916 – U.S. President Woodrow Wilson signs a bill incorporating the Boy Scouts of America, making them the only American youth organization with a federal charter.

1934 – The U.S. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is founded.

1938 – Billy Williams, American baseball player, Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer, and coach is born.

1954 – Jim Belushi, American actor and singer is born.

1964 – Courteney Cox, American actress, director, and producer is born.

1970 – Charles Manson goes on trial for the Sharon Tate murders.

1985 – Rembrandt's painting Danaë is attacked by a man (later judged insane) who throws sulfuric acid on the canvas and cuts it twice with a knife.

1991 – In the Philippines, Mount Pinatubo erupts in the second largest volcanic eruption of the 20th Century. In the end, over 800 people die.

1992 – The United States Supreme Court rules in United States v. Álvarez-Machaín that it is permissible for the United States to forcibly extradite suspects in foreign countries and bring them to the USA for trial, without approval from those other countries.

2012 – Nik Wallenda becomes the first person to successfully tightrope walk directly over Niagara Falls.