English singer-songwriter, dancer, model
German race car driver
American swimmer
American boxer, actor
American wrestler, actor
American engineer
Israeli politician, 7th Prime Minister of Israel
German general, politician, 23rd Chancellor of Germany
American musician, songwriter, producer
American playwright
In 1520, Hernán Cortés and his army of Spanish conquistadors were expelled from Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital, following a revolt by the Aztecs. The revolt, known as "La Noche Triste" (the Night of Sadness), resulted in the deaths of many Spanish soldiers and Aztec civilians, including Aztec Emperor Moctezuma II.
In 1860, a famous debate on Charles Darwin's theory of evolution was held at the Oxford University Museum. The debate was dominated by arguments between Thomas Henry Huxley, a supporter of Darwin's theory, and Bishop Samuel Wilberforce, a critic of the theory. The debate was significant in the history of science and the acceptance of evolution as a scientific theory.
In 1905, Albert Einstein submitted a paper outlining his theory of special relativity, titled "Zur Elektrodynamik bewegter Körper." This theory is currently accepted as the basis for the relationship between space and time. Einstein's theory of special relativity was the foundation for his later theory of general relativity, which he published in 1916.
In 1908, a massive explosion occurred near the Stony Tunguska River in Yeniseysk Governorate, Russia, known as the Tunguska Event. The explosion, believed to have been caused by an asteroid or comet, flattened and scorched over 2,000 square kilometers of Siberian forest, making it the largest impact event in recorded history.
In 1934, Adolf Hitler staged a violent purge of the Nazi Party in what became known as the "Night of Long Knives." Hitler used the event to consolidate his power and eliminate his rivals within the party. Many prominent members of the Nazi Party were killed or arrested during the purge.
In 1938, Superman made his first appearance in DC Comics' Action Comics Series issue #1. Created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Superman is one of the most iconic and enduring superheroes of all time.
In 1971, the crew of the Soviet spacecraft Soyuz 11 died following the loss of air supply. The cause of the tragedy was a faulty valve. Prior to the accident, the crew had achieved the first docking of a spacecraft to a space station in history.
In 1972, the first leap second was added to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) to account for the Earth's slowing rotation. UTC is the basis for the calculation of local times worldwide.
In 1992, Nelson Mandela, the President of the African National Congress (ANC), met with Boutros Boutros-Ghali, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in Dakar. The meeting was held to discuss the ongoing struggle against apartheid in South Africa and to seek support from the UN in their efforts to end the system of racial segregation and discrimination. Mandela had recently been released from prison after serving 27 years for his political activities and was working towards the goal of a democratic and non-racial South Africa.