Editing October 21 (section)

===1601–1900===
*[[1774]] &ndash; The [[flag of Taunton, Massachusetts]] is the first to include the word "Liberty".
*[[1797]] &ndash; In [[Boston Harbor]], the 44-gun [[United States Navy]] frigate {{USS|Constitution}} is launched.
*[[1805]] &ndash; [[Napoleonic Wars]]: A British fleet led by [[Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson|Lord Nelson]] defeats a combined French and Spanish fleet under [[Pierre-Charles Villeneuve|Admiral Villeneuve]] in the [[Battle of Trafalgar]].
*[[1824]] &ndash; [[Portland cement]] is patented.
*[[1854]] &ndash; [[Florence Nightingale]] and a staff of 38 nurses are sent to the [[Crimean War]].
*[[1861]] &ndash; [[American Civil War]]: Union forces under Colonel [[Edward D. Baker|Edward Baker]] are [[Battle of Ball's Bluff|defeated]] by Confederate troops in the second major battle of the war. 
*[[1867]] &ndash; The [[Medicine Lodge Treaty]] is signed by southern [[Plains Indians|Great Plains Indian]] leaders. The treaty requires Native American Plains tribes to relocate to a reservation in the western [[Indian Territory]].
*[[1879]] &ndash; [[Thomas Edison]] applies for a patent for his design for an [[incandescent light bulb]]. 
*[[1888]] &ndash; The [[Social Democratic Party of Switzerland|Swiss Social Democratic Party]] is founded.
*[[1892]] &ndash; Opening ceremonies for the [[World's Columbian Exposition]] are held in Chicago, though because construction was behind schedule, the exposition did not open until May 1, 1893.
*[[1895]] &ndash; The [[capitulation of Tainan]] completes the Japanese conquest of Taiwan.