1. In 1777, the Battle of Germantown took place in Pennsylvania during the American Revolutionary War. The battle had significant implications for New Jersey, as it involved General George Washington's Continental Army, which was made up of soldiers from New Jersey and other colonies.

2. In 1783, the Treaty of Paris was signed, officially ending the American Revolutionary War. This treaty recognized the independence of the United States from Great Britain, and paved the way for New Jersey to become one of the original 13 states in the newly formed nation.

3. In 1878, Thomas Edison patented the first successful incandescent light bulb, a significant invention that would revolutionize the way people lived and worked. Edison was born in Ohio, but spent much of his life and career in New Jersey, where he established his famous laboratory in Menlo Park.

4. In 1937, the Hindenburg disaster occurred in Lakehurst, New Jersey, when the German airship caught fire and crashed. The tragic incident killed 36 people, including crew members and passengers, and had significant impacts on the development of air travel and the use of hydrogen in airships.

5. In 1973, Governor William T. Cahill signed the New Jersey Lottery Act, which established the first state-run lottery in the nation. The lottery has since become a major source of revenue for the state, and has funded numerous programs and initiatives ranging from education to environmental preservation.