EVENTS
- 1862 – The first issue of U.S. government paper money occurred as $5, $10 and $20 bills began circulation.
- 1876 – Alexander Graham Bell makes the first successful telephone call.
Alexander Graham Bell - 1880 – The Salvation Army was founded in the United States. The social service organization was first founded in England by William Booth and operates today in 90 countries.
- 1945 – The most destructive bombing raid in history hits Tokyo. About 100,000 Tokyo citizens died in the fires caused by the U.S. airforce’s incendiary bombs.
- 1952 – Fulgencio Batista assumes power in Cuba after a coup. The dictator was overthrown by rebels under the command of Che Guevara in 1959.
- 1959 – A revolt erupts in Lhasa, sparking the Tibetan uprising. Fearing the Dalai Lama’s abduction by China, 300,000 Tibetans surrounded his palace.
- 1977 – Astronomers discover rings around Uranus.
- 1982 – All 9 planets of the Solar System align on the same side of the Sun.
- 1997 – “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” premieres.
- 2000 – The dotcom bubble bursts when the NASDAQ Composite stock market index peaks at 5408.60. The dotcom boom, which started in 1997, accompanied the advent of countless new Internet-based companies. When the speculative bubble burst, many small investors were affected.
BIRTHDAYS
- 1903 – Politician and playwright Claire Boothe Luce (1903-1987) was born in New York City
- 1928 – James Earl Ray (killed Martin Luther King)
- 1940 – Chuck Norris (Actor)
- 1952 – Morgan Tsvangirai (Zimbabwean politician, 2nd Prime Minister of Zimbabwe)
- 1957 – Osama bin Laden (Terrorist)
- 1958 – Sharon Stone (Actress)
Sharon Stone - 1977 – Shannon Miller (Gymnast)
- 1984 – Carrie Underwood (Singer)
DEATHS
- 1913 – Harriet Tubman (American nurse, activist)
- 1948 – Zelda Fitzgerald (American author)
Zelda Fitzgerald - 1988 – Andy Gibb (English/Australian singer)
- 1992 – Giorgos Zampetas (Greek bouzouki player, songwriter)
- 2012 – Jean Giraud (French author, illustrator)
