An explosion, allegedly caused by a North Korean torpedo, sank the South Korean warship ROKS Cheonan near Baengnyeongdo in the Yellow Sea, killing 46 sailors.
A prototype of the Tesla Model S, one of the most influential electric cars in history, was unveiled.
A jury began deliberations in the trial of Jack Kevorkian, an American practitioner of physician-assisted suicide who was charged with murder in the death of a terminally ill patient.
Police in Rancho Santa Fe, California, discovered the bodies of 39 members of the religious group Heaven's Gate who had died in an apparent cult suicide.
The Biological Weapons Convention, the first multilateral disarmament treaty banning the production of an entire category of weapons, entered into force.
Jonas Salk announced the successful test of his polio vaccine on a small group of adults and children.
The American tanker Dixie Arrow is torpedoed and sunk off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, by the German U-boat U-71.
Nationalist forces began their final offensive of the Spanish Civil War, at the end of which they controlled almost the entire country.
First World War: Attempting to advance into Palestine, the British were defeated by Ottoman troops at the First Battle of Gaza.
First Balkan War: After a five-month siege, Bulgarian and Serbian forces (artillery pictured) captured the Ottoman city of Adrianople.
An explosion at the Brunner Mine in New Zealand killed 65 coal miners in the country's deadliest mining accident.
Perceiving that the Canadian government was failing to protect their rights, the Métis people led by Louis Riel began the North-West Rebellion.
A Dutch military expedition was launched to bombard Banda Aceh, the capital of the Aceh Sultanate in present-day Indonesia, beginning the Aceh War.
The Boston Gazette printed a cartoon coining the term "gerrymander", named after Governor Elbridge Gerry (pictured), who approved the legislation that created oddly shaped electoral districts.
The Safavid Empire began a four-year occupation of the Ottoman city of Basra on the Persian Gulf.
The Spanish ship San José ran aground onto coasts controlled by the indigenous Cunco people, who subsequently killed the crew.
William Caxton (pictured) printed the first English translation of Aesop's Fables.
Reconquista: The Muslim city of Algeciras surrendered after a 21-month siege and was incorporated into the Kingdom of Castile.
Byzantine emperor Maurice proclaimed his son Theodosius as his co-emperor.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapses following a collision between the MV Dali container ship and one of the bridge's support pillars, killing 6 people.
Russia-wide anti-corruption protests in 99 cities. The Levada Center survey showed that 38% of surveyed Russians supported protests and that 67 percent held Putin personally responsible for high-level corruption.
The South Korean Navy corvette Cheonan is torpedoed, killing 46 sailors. After an international investigation, the President of the United Nations Security Council blames North Korea.
Around 200,000 to 300,000 Taiwanese demonstrate in Taipei in opposition to the Anti-Secession Law of China.
During the Algerian Civil War, the Oued Bouaicha massacre sees fifty-two people, mostly infants, killed with axes and knives.
Thirty-nine bodies are found in the Heaven's Gate mass suicides.
Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay sign the Treaty of Asunción, establishing Mercosur, the South Common Market.
Singapore Airlines Flight 117 is hijacked by four Pakistani terrorists and diverted to Changi Airport.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is held in Washington, D.C.
Social Democratic Party (UK) is founded as a party.
Anwar al-Sadat, Menachem Begin and Jimmy Carter sign the Egypt–Israel peace treaty in Washington, D.C.
An Interflug Ilyushin Il-18 crashes at Quatro de Fevereiro Airport during a rejected takeoff, killing 10.
The Biological Weapons Convention comes into force.
East Pakistan, then province of Pakistan, declares its independence from Pakistan to form Bangladesh; the Bangladesh's War of Independence begins.
South Vietnamese President Nguyễn Văn Thiệu implements a land reform program to solve the problem of land tenancy.
Ten thousand people gather for one of many Central Park be-ins in New York City.
The United States Army launches Explorer 3.
The African Regroupment Party is launched at a meeting in Paris.
Pan Am Flight 845/26 ditches in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Oregon, killing four.
Nuclear weapons testing: The Romeo shot of Operation Castle is detonated at Bikini Atoll. Yield: 11 megatons.
World War II: The Battle of Iwo Jima ends as the island is officially secured by American forces.
World War II: The first female prisoners arrive at Auschwitz concentration camp in German-occupied Poland.
Spanish Civil War: Nationalists begin their final offensive of the war.
The United Kingdom driving test is introduced.
Swissair is founded as the national airline of Switzerland.
Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union is founded in Vietnam.
The German Social Democratic Party is founded in Poland.
World War I: First Battle of Gaza: British troops are halted after 17,000 Turks block their advance.
The Vancouver Millionaires win the 1915 Stanley Cup Finals, the first championship played between the Pacific Coast Hockey Association and the National Hockey Association.
First Balkan War: Bulgarian forces capture Adrianople.
An explosion at the Brunner Mine near Greymouth, New Zealand, kills 65 coal miners in the country's worst industrial accident.
The Métis people of the District of Saskatchewan under Louis Riel begin the North-West Rebellion against Canada.
The elections of Commune council of the Paris Commune are held.
The first Henley Royal Regatta is held.
The Book of Mormon is published in Palmyra, New York.
An earthquake devastates Caracas, Venezuela.
A political cartoon in the Boston-Gazette coins the term "gerrymander" to describe oddly shaped electoral districts designed to help incumbents win reelection.
William Dampier is the first European to circumnavigate New Britain, discovering it is an island (which he names Nova Britannia) rather than part of New Guinea.
Safavid government troops take control of Basra.
The Silver-loaded Spanish ship San José, pushed south by strong winds, is wrecked on the coast of southern Chile and its surviving crew members are killed by indigenous Cuncos.
The Royal Academy of Turku, the first university of Finland, is founded in the city of Turku by Queen Christina of Sweden at the proposal of Count Per Brahe.
Utrecht University is founded in the Netherlands.
Guru Amar Das becomes the Third Sikh guru.
William Caxton prints his translation of Aesop's Fables.
Combat of the Thirty: Thirty Breton knights call out and defeat thirty English knights.
The Siege of Algeciras, one of the first European military engagements where gunpowder was used, comes to an end.
The crown of Aragon and the crown of Castile agree in the Treaty of Almizra on the limits of their respective expansion into al-Andalus.
Saladin becomes the emir of Egypt.
Pope John XIX crowns Conrad II as Holy Roman Emperor.
The death of the Fatimid caliph al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah, kept secret for six weeks, is announced, along with the succession of his son, al-Zahir li-i'zaz Din Allah.
First Eid al-Fitr celebration.
Emperor Maurice proclaims his son Theodosius as co-emperor of the Byzantine Empire.
Ella Anderson, American actress
Awra Briguela, Filipino actor and comedian
Bhad Bhabie, American rapper and social media personality
Jameson Williams, American football player
Gefen Primo, Israeli judoka
Andrei Svechnikov, Russian ice hockey player
Satoko Miyahara, Japanese figure skater
Zane Musgrove, New Zealand rugby league player
Kathryn Bernardo, Filipino actress
Ibai Llanos, Spanish internet personality
Ryan Arcidiacono, American basketball player
Alison Van Uytvanck, Belgian tennis player
Paige VanZant, American mixed martial artist and model
Jed Wallace, English footballer
Marcela Zacarías, Mexican tennis player
Nina Agdal, Danish model
Stoffel Vandoorne, Belgian racing driver
Matt Davidson, American baseball player
Ramy Youssef, American actor and comedian
Choi Woo-shik, South Korean actor
Matteo Guidicelli, Filipino actor, model, singer and former kart racer
Patrick Ekeng, Cameroonian footballer (died 2016)
Yuya Takaki, Japanese idol, singer, dancer, model and actor
Xiumin, South Korean singer and actor
Simon Kjær, Danish footballer
Von Miller, American football player
Kim Dong-suk, South Korean footballer
Jermichael Finley, American football player
Steven Fletcher, Scottish footballer
Maxime Biset, Belgian footballer
Rob Kearney, Irish rugby player
Emma Laine, Finnish tennis player
Keira Knightley, English actress
Matt Grevers, American swimmer
Jonathan Groff, American actor and singer
Prosper Utseya, Zimbabwean cricketer
Jimmy Howard, American ice hockey player
Drew Mitchell, Australian rugby player
Felix Neureuther, German skier
Marco Stier, German footballer
Gregory Strydom, Zimbabwean cricketer
Sara Jean Underwood, American model, television host, and actress
Andreas Hinkel, German footballer
Floriana Lima, American actress
Roman Bednář, Czech footballer
Mike Mondo, American wrestler
Mikel Arteta, Spanish footballer
Brendan Ryan, American baseball player
Nate Kaeding, American football player
Sébastien Centomo, Canadian ice hockey player
Zayar Thaw, Burmese rapper and politician (died 2022)
Baruch Dego, Ethiopian-Israeli footballer
Massimo Donati, Italian footballer
Josh Wilson, American baseball player
Margaret Brennan, American journalist
Son Ho-young, South Korean singer
Richie Wellens, English footballer
Nacho Novo, Spanish footballer
Ben Blair, New Zealand rugby union footballer
Hiromi Uehara, Japanese pianist and composer
Pierre Womé, Cameroonian footballer
Juliana Paes, Brazilian actress
Anastasia Kostaki, Greek basketball player
Kevin Davies, English footballer
Bianca Kajlich, American actress
Sylvain Grenier, Canadian wrestler
Amy Smart, American actress and former model
Alex Varas, Chilean footballer
Eirik Verås Larsen, Norwegian sprint kayaker
Irina Spîrlea, Romanian tennis player
Vadimas Petrenko, Lithuanian footballer
Michael Peca, Canadian ice hockey player and coach
Larry Page, American computer scientist and businessman, co-founder of Google
T. R. Knight, American actor
Leslie Mann, American actress
Jason Maxwell, American baseball player
Martyn Day, Scottish politician
Erick Morillo, Colombian-American disc jockey, record label owner, and music producer (died 2020)
Rennae Stubbs, Australian tennis player and sportscaster
Paul Williams, English footballer and manager
Paul Bosvelt, Dutch footballer
Jelle Goes, Dutch footballer and coach
Thomas Kyparissis, Greek footballer
Martin McDonagh, English-born Irish playwright, screenwriter, and director
Alessandro Moscardi, Italian rugby player
Laurent Brochard, French cyclist
Kenny Chesney, American singer-songwriter and guitarist
James Iha, American guitarist and songwriter
Jason Chaffetz, American politician
Michael Imperioli, American actor and screenwriter
Trey Azagthoth, American guitarist, songwriter, and producer
Violeta Szekely, Romanian runner
Martin Bella, Australian rugby league player
Martin Donnelly, Irish racing driver
Maria Miller, English businessman and politician, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Ulf Samuelsson, Swedish-American ice hockey player and coach
Natsuhiko Kyogoku, Japanese author
Richard Coles, English pianist, saxophonist, and priest
Kevin Seitzer, American baseball player and coach
Yuri Gidzenko, Russian pilot and cosmonaut
John Stockton, American basketball player and coach
Eric Allan Kramer, American-Canadian actor
William Hague, English historian and politician, First Secretary of State
Marcus Allen, American football player and sportscaster
Jennifer Grey, American actress and dancer
Graeme Rutjes, Australian-Dutch footballer
Elio de Angelis, Italian racing driver (died 1986)
Fiona Bruce, Scottish lawyer and politician
Leeza Gibbons, American talk show host and television personality
Paul Morley, English journalist, producer, and author
Shirin Neshat, Iranian visual artist
Charly McClain, American country music singer
Park Won-soon, South Korean lawyer and politician, 35th Mayor of Seoul (died 2020)
Clive Palmer, Australian businessman and politician
Curtis Sliwa, American talk show host and activist, founded Guardian Angels
Dorothy Porter, Australian poet and playwright (died 2008)
Lincoln Chafee, American academic and politician, 74th Governor of Rhode Island
Elaine Chao, Taiwanese-American banker and politician, 24th United States Secretary of Labor
Tatyana Providokhina, Russian runner
Didier Pironi, French racing driver (died 1987)
Željko Pavličević, Croatian professional basketball coach and former professional player
Carl Wieman, American physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate
Teddy Pendergrass, American singer-songwriter (died 2010)
Graham Barlow, English cricketer
Martin Short, Canadian-American actor, screenwriter, and producer
Alan Silvestri, American composer and conductor
Jon English, English-Australian singer-songwriter and actor (died 2016)
Rudi Koertzen, South African cricketer and umpire (died 2022)
Vicki Lawrence, American actress, comedian, talk show host, and singer
Fran Sheehan, American bass player
Patrick Süskind, German author and screenwriter
Ernest Lee Thomas, American actor
Kyung-wha Chung, South Korean violinist and educator
Richard Tandy, English pianist and keyboard player (died 2024)
Steven Tyler, American singer-songwriter and actor
Subhash Kak, Indian-American professor and author
John Rowles, New Zealand-Australian singer-songwriter
Johnny Crawford, American actor and singer (died 2021)
Alain Madelin, French politician, French Minister of Finance
Paul Bérenger, Mauritian politician, Prime Minister of Mauritius
Mikhail Voronin, Russian gymnast and coach (died 2004)
Diana Ross, American singer-songwriter, producer, and actress
Mustafa Kalemli, Turkish physician and politician, Turkish Minister of the Interior
Bob Woodward, American journalist and author
Erica Jong, American novelist and poet
Richard Dawkins, Kenyan-English ethologist, biologist, and academic
Lella Lombardi, Italian racing driver (died 1992)
James Caan, American actor and singer (died 2022)
Nancy Pelosi, American lawyer and politician, 52nd Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
Jörg Streli, Austrian architect
Norman Ackroyd, English painter and illustrator
Anthony James Leggett, English-American physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate
Wayne Embry, American basketball player and manager
Barbara Jones, American sprinter
James Lee, Canadian businessman and politician, 26th Premier of Prince Edward Island (died 2023)
Alan Arkin, American actor (died 2023)
Edvaldo Alves de Santa Rosa, Brazilian footballer (died 2002)
Tinto Brass, Italian director and screenwriter
Leroy Griffith, American businessman
James Andrew Harris, American chemist and academic (died 2000)