Thomas S. Monson, the 16th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), passed away. He was known for his humanitarian focus and leadership during a period of global expansion.
📍 Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
The Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world at 828 meters, was officially opened in Dubai, symbolizing architectural achievement and the rapid growth of the UAE.
📍 Dubai, United Arab Emirates
The 111th United States Congress opened, featuring a Democratic majority and paving the way for major legislative efforts including the Affordable Care Act under President Barack Obama.
📍 Washington, D.C., United States
Nancy Pelosi was sworn in as the first female Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, becoming the highest-ranking woman in U.S. political history at the time.
📍 Washington, D.C., United States
The Sundance Film Festival was founded in Utah as a platform for independent filmmakers. It grew into one of the most prestigious festivals promoting creative voices in global cinema.
📍 Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
NASA officially canceled Apollo 20 to repurpose its Saturn V rocket for the Skylab space station. This decision marked the winding down of the Apollo lunar program.
📍 Houston, Texas, United States
Erwin Schrödinger, Nobel Prize-winning physicist and one of the founders of quantum mechanics, passed away. He is best known for the Schrödinger equation and the famous thought experiment 'Schrödinger’s cat.'
📍 Vienna, Austria
Albert Camus, French writer and philosopher known for works such as *The Stranger* and *The Myth of Sisyphus*, died in a car crash. He was a leading figure in existential and absurdist thought.
📍 Villeblevin, France
Mao Zedong stepped down as Chairman of the People’s Republic of China, though he retained control of the Communist Party. This marked a shift in official governance while maintaining his influence.
📍 Beijing, China
Elvis Presley made his first recordings at Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee. This marked the beginning of a music career that would change rock and roll forever.
📍 Memphis, Tennessee, United States
The Union of Burma (now Myanmar) officially began celebrating its independence from British colonial rule, marking the end of over 60 years under British administration.
📍 Yangon, Myanmar
Henri Bergson, French philosopher known for his work on time, consciousness, and intuition, passed away. His ideas influenced literature, psychology, and 20th-century thought.
📍 Paris, France
Gao Xingjian, Chinese-French novelist, playwright, and Nobel Prize winner in Literature, was born. His works explore themes of exile, identity, and individual freedom.
📍 Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
Cornelius Vanderbilt, a key figure in American transportation and business during the 19th century, died. He amassed a fortune in railroads and shipping, helping shape U.S. industry.
📍 New York City, United States
Elizabeth Blackwell began her studies at Geneva Medical College, becoming the first woman to attend medical school in the United States. She would later become the first female physician in the country.
📍 Geneva, New York, United States
Louis Braille, a French educator who invented the tactile writing system used by blind individuals worldwide, was born. His system revolutionized literacy and access to education.
📍 Coupvray, France
The U.S. Congress convened for the first time in Washington, D.C., establishing the city as the permanent seat of government and beginning a new era in American politics.
📍 Washington, D.C., United States
Wilhelm Beer, a German banker and amateur astronomer, was born. He produced the first reliable lunar maps and co-authored the earliest accurate chart of Mars' rotation.
📍 Berlin, Prussia (now Germany)
Jacob Grimm, one half of the famous Brothers Grimm and a key figure in folklore, philology, and the creation of *Grimm’s Fairy Tales*, was born. His linguistic work helped shape modern German studies.
📍 Hanau, Hesse, Holy Roman Empire
Sir Isaac Newton, one of the most influential scientists in history known for his laws of motion and universal gravitation, was born. His work laid the foundation for classical mechanics.
📍 Woolsthorpe, England