1602-United Dutch East Indian Company (VOC) is formed and granted a monopoly on all Dutch sea-borne trade with Asia 1800-Alessandro Volta reports his discovery of the electric battery in a letter to Joseph Banks, president of the Royal Society of London 1815-Napoleon Bonaparte enters Paris after his escape from Elba and begins his 100-day rule 1854-Republican Party is formally organized in Ripon, Wisconsin 1900-U.S. Secretary of State John Hay announces that all nations to whom he sent notes calling for an 'open door' policy in China have essentially accepted his stance 2016 Barack Obama becomes the first U.S, President to visit Cuba since 1928, arriving for a three-day tour with First Lady Michelle 2024-New rule limiting tailpipe pollution aimed at greatly expanding electric vehicles in the U.S. is announced by President Joe Biden 2024-Vaughan Gething is confirmed as Wales' new First Minister and the first Black leader of a national government in Europe