MORE EVENTS ON THIS DAY

2006: American singer and songwriter James Brown, known as “the Godfather of Soul,” died at the age of 73. [Test your knowledge of music.]

1991: Mikhail Gorbachev resigned the presidency of the Soviet Union, which ceased to exist at the end of the year. [How much do you know about Russian history?]

1977: Charlie Chaplin, the British comedic actor and director who is widely regarded as one of the most important figures in motion-picture history, died in Corsier-sur-Vevey, Switzerland. [Take our quiz about movies.]

1962: The film adaptation of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbirdpremiered and became a classic, especially noted for Gregory Peck's portrayal of Atticus Finch. [ Test your knowledge of To Kill a Mockingbird.]

1821: Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, was born in Oxford, Massachusetts. [Take our quiz about the United States.]

1776: During the American Revolution, General George Washingtoncrossed the Delaware River and surprised the British at Trenton, New Jersey. [Read our timeline of the American Revolution.]