1. In 1780, the British army under General Cornwallis defeated American troops under the command of General Horatio Gates at the Battle of Camden in Kershaw County. This defeat was a major blow to the American forces during the Revolutionary War and led to the temporary occupation of South Carolina by the British.

2. In 1860, the South Carolina Secession Convention met for the first time in Charleston. This convention ultimately led to South Carolina becoming the first state to secede from the Union, triggering the start of the Civil War.

3. In 1920, the S.S. City of Atlanta, a naval cargo ship that had been carrying antiaircraft guns and ammunition, exploded and sank off the coast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Many of the sailors on board were from Charleston, and the disaster had a significant impact on the city and its economy.

4. In 1972, Hurricane Agnes caused widespread flooding and damage throughout South Carolina. The storm dumped record amounts of rain, causing numerous rivers to overflow their banks and forcing thousands of residents to evacuate their homes.

5. In 2000, former South Carolina Governor and U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond celebrated his 98th birthday. Thurmond served in the Senate for a record 48 years and was known for his strong conservative views and opposition to civil rights legislation.