Achille Compagnoni, Italian mountaineer who was the first to summit K2 in 1954 with Lino Lacedelli, died. His historic climb of the world’s second-highest mountain remains a milestone in alpine exploration.
📍 Aosta, Italy
The 2008 Summer Olympics officially opened in Beijing, China, with a spectacular ceremony. It was a moment of global attention for China and featured 204 participating nations.
📍 Beijing, China
Fay Wray, iconic actress best known for her role as Ann Darrow in the 1933 classic *King Kong*, died at age 96. Her scream and performance helped shape early cinematic horror and monster films.
📍 New York City, United States
Clyde Tombaugh, the American astronomer who discovered Pluto in 1930, died. His work significantly advanced planetary science, and a portion of his ashes was later sent into space aboard the New Horizons probe.
📍 Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States
Facing near-certain impeachment over the Watergate scandal, U.S. President Richard Nixon announced his resignation in a televised address. He became the first and only American president to resign from office.
📍 Washington, D.C., United States
NASA’s Mariner 7 space probe successfully entered orbit around Mars to study its atmosphere and surface. It provided the most detailed images of the planet to date, aiding future Mars missions.
📍 Mars Orbit
Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand signed the Bangkok Declaration to form ASEAN—the Association of Southeast Asian Nations—promoting economic, political, and security cooperation in the region.
📍 Bangkok, Thailand
Brian Epstein, British entrepreneur and manager of The Beatles, died at age 32. He was instrumental in shaping the band’s global success and the 1960s music industry.
📍 London, England, United Kingdom
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) began enforcing the Civil Rights Act of 1964, marking the start of legal action against workplace discrimination in the U.S. based on race, sex, and religion.
📍 Washington, D.C., United States
Shirley Jackson, American author known for psychological horror and dark fiction such as *The Lottery* and *The Haunting of Hill House*, died. Her work had a profound influence on horror literature and pop culture.
📍 North Bennington, Vermont, United States
The Soviet Union declared war on Japan and launched a massive invasion of Japanese-occupied Manchuria. This action significantly pressured Japan to surrender, contributing to the end of World War II.
📍 Manchuria, China
The Soviet Union ratified the United Nations Charter, helping bring the global body into legal force. The move represented a rare moment of postwar cooperation among major world powers.
📍 Moscow, Soviet Union
Louis Wain, English artist famous for his anthropomorphic and psychedelic cat illustrations, died. His work influenced pop culture and studies on mental health and creativity.
📍 Napsbury Hospital, St Albans, England
Dustin Hoffman, acclaimed American actor known for his roles in *The Graduate*, *Rain Man*, and *Kramer vs. Kramer*, was born. His versatile performances redefined film acting in the late 20th century.
📍 Los Angeles, California, United States
Mahatma Gandhi began a fast to protest untouchability and promote social equality in India. The act drew national and international attention to the plight of Dalits and caste-based discrimination.
📍 Poona (now Pune), India
Roger Penrose, English mathematical physicist and Nobel laureate, was born. He made groundbreaking contributions to general relativity, black holes, and mathematical physics.
📍 Colchester, England, United Kingdom
Eufemio Zapata, brother of Mexican revolutionary leader Emiliano Zapata, was killed during the Mexican Revolution. His death symbolized internal rifts among revolutionaries and intensified the struggle for land reform.
📍 Cuautla, Morelos, Mexico
Garrett A. Hobart, the 24th Vice President of the United States under President William McKinley, died while in office. His passing led to renewed attention on the presidential line of succession.
📍 Paterson, New Jersey, United States
The First Geneva Convention was signed, establishing legal protections for wounded soldiers and medical staff during wartime. It marked a milestone in the development of international humanitarian law.
📍 Geneva, Switzerland
Baldassare Castiglione, Italian diplomat and author of *The Book of the Courtier*, died. His writings became a seminal work of Renaissance literature and a guide to courtly behavior and etiquette.
📍 Toledo, Spain