The Bank of England introduced its first polymer £10 note, featuring Jane Austen. The note was praised for its durability and advanced security features, part of a broader global trend toward polymer currency.
📍 London, United Kingdom
Microsoft announced its $8.5 billion acquisition of Skype, a major move in its push to compete in the communications and video call space. The deal marked one of the largest tech acquisitions at the time.
📍 Redmond, Washington, United States
Actors Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt were awarded Emmys for their performances in the sitcom *Mad About You*, which portrayed modern marriage with wit and sincerity, becoming a 1990s cultural touchstone.
📍 Los Angeles, California, United States
Nelson Mandela was sworn in as South Africa’s first Black president after the country’s first fully democratic elections. His presidency marked the official end of apartheid and a new era of reconciliation.
📍 Pretoria, South Africa
U.S. President Gerald Ford signed the Metric Conversion Act, establishing the United States Metric Board to promote the voluntary conversion to the metric system in commerce and education.
📍 Washington, D.C., United States
Edward Craven Walker patented the iconic lava lamp, a psychedelic decorative object that became a cultural symbol of the 1960s and 1970s. Its unique design and mesmerizing motion made it a pop culture staple.
📍 United Kingdom
The Seagram Building, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Philip Johnson, officially opened in Manhattan. It became a pioneering example of modernist architecture and influenced skyscraper design worldwide.
📍 New York City, United States
Canada deployed its first official UN peacekeeping troops during the Suez Crisis, under the initiative of Lester B. Pearson. It helped solidify Canada’s international role in conflict resolution and earned Pearson a Nobel Peace Prize.
📍 Middle East
A de Havilland Comet jet broke up mid-air shortly after takeoff, becoming the first commercial jet airliner crash. The tragedy led to major changes in aircraft design and safety regulations worldwide.
📍 Near Calcutta, India
President Harry S. Truman signed the first National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), authorizing military spending and structure for U.S. national defense. The NDAA remains an annual and influential defense policy tool.
📍 Washington, D.C., United States
Winston Churchill was appointed Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, succeeding Neville Chamberlain. His leadership during World War II proved crucial to Britain's resistance against Nazi Germany.
📍 London, United Kingdom
Nazi Germany launched its invasion of France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands in a rapid military campaign. The offensive marked a major escalation in World War II and led to France’s surrender within weeks.
📍 Western Europe
J. Edgar Hoover was appointed as Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, a position he would hold for nearly 48 years. He transformed the FBI into a powerful and controversial force in American law enforcement.
📍 Washington, D.C., United States
Fred Astaire, one of the greatest dancers in film history, was born in Omaha, Nebraska. His elegant style, paired with Ginger Rogers and solo work, influenced generations of performers and choreographers.
📍 Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Japan established its central bank, the Bank of Japan, to modernize its financial system and stabilize its currency. The bank would go on to play a key role in Japan’s industrial and economic development.
📍 Tokyo, Japan
The U.S. completed the first transcontinental railroad as the Union Pacific and Central Pacific lines met at Promontory Summit, Utah. The railroad revolutionized transportation and commerce across North America.
📍 Promontory Summit, Utah, United States
Australian amateur astronomer John Tebbutt made the first recorded observation of the Great Comet of 1861. It became one of the most visible and brightest comets of the 19th century, stunning viewers across the globe.
📍 Windsor, New South Wales, Australia
John Wilkes Booth, the actor who would later assassinate President Abraham Lincoln, was born in Maryland. His actions had profound effects on U.S. history and the aftermath of the Civil War.
📍 Bel Air, Maryland, United States
The U.S. Congress admitted Louisiana as the 18th state in the Union. It was the first state formed from land acquired in the Louisiana Purchase and marked a major step in westward expansion.
📍 Louisiana, United States
Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus, who developed the modern system of naming organisms (binomial nomenclature), was born. His work revolutionized biological classification and laid the foundation for taxonomy.
📍 Råshult, Sweden