Samuel Colt patents his revolver, the first black U.S. senator takes his seat, Muhammad Ali wins his first heavyweight title, and Ferdinand Marcos flees the Philippines, all on this day.
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1950: Film director Neil Jordan, who won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for 1992's "The Crying Game," which he also directed, is born in Sligo, Ireland. Jordan has also directed such movies as "Interview with the Vampire," "Michael Collins" and "The Brave One."