2009
NASA’s Discovery Space Shuttle launched from the Kennedy Space Center on mission STS-119.
The 156th crewed NASA space flight and 28th Space Shuttle mission to the ISS would have been a completely uneventful trip if it weren’t for a stowaway that tried to hitch a ride. During the countdown, a bat was seen clinging to the shuttle’s external fuel tank. The flight operators thought it would fly away during blast-off, but the bat clung on for quite some time before it was shaken off.
Source
1990
Mikhail Gorbachev was elected as the Soviet Union’s first President.
Source
1985
The very first .com domain was registered.
The domain name was symbolics.com and was made by Symbolic Inc – a computer company in Massachusetts, US.
Source
1972
The first installment of “The Godfather,” starring Marlon Brando and Al Pacino, premiered in New York City.
Source
1968
Jimi Hendrix was declared the “most spectacular guitarist in the world” by LIFE magazine.
Source
1959
Robert Foster made a world record for holding his breath underwater.
He held his breath for an incredible 13 minutes and 42.5 seconds. Foster held this record for 48 years!
Source
1956
The musical “My Fair Lady” had its first performance on Broadway in New York City.
Source
1945
Billboard started publishing the top album charts list with the King Cole Trio as the first #1.
Source
1937
Dr. Bernard Fantus and his team opened the very first “blood bank” in Cook County Hospital, Chicago, US.
Source
1922
Fuad I became King of Egypt.
When the United Kingdom recognized Egypt’s independence in 1922, he exchanged the title of king for sultan.
Source
1820
Maine became the 23rd state to join the United States of America.
Source
1493
Explorer Christopher Columbus wrote a letter about his travels to the New World.
He wrote the letter while aboard the Niña on his return to Europe.
Source
44 BC
Julius Caesar was assassinated.
It happened during a Senate meeting in Rome where senators stabbed him 23 times because they believed Caesar was undermining the Roman Republic.
Source