On this day in 1763 Spain transfers title to Florida to Britain in exchange for the return of the City of Havana, Cuba, which had been captured when Spain allied itself with France in the French and Indian War. Britain controlled Florida from 1763 until 1783, when it again became a Spanish possession at the end of the American Revolution.

In 1958 the first successful test of the 85-foot tall Atlas missile from Cape Canaveral.The success of this test launch accelerates the American Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) program.