Janet Reno, the first woman to serve as Attorney General of the United States, passed away. She served under President Bill Clinton and was known for her leadership during high-profile investigations.
📍 Miami, Florida, United States
John Gardner, who continued the James Bond literary series after Ian Fleming's death, passed away. He also authored the Boysie Oakes series and became a key figure in modern spy fiction.
📍 Basingstoke, England
Paul Wellstone, a Minnesota senator known for his progressive politics and grassroots campaigning, died in a plane crash. He was a strong advocate for labor rights, education, and healthcare reform.
📍 Minnesota, United States
NASA’s Liberty Bell 7 capsule, which sank after its 1961 spaceflight, was recovered from the Atlantic Ocean. The mission had marked the second American manned spaceflight, piloted by Gus Grissom.
📍 Atlantic Ocean
Alan Shepard, the first American astronaut in space and one of only twelve people to walk on the Moon, passed away. He flew aboard Freedom 7 in 1961 and later commanded Apollo 14.
📍 Monterey, California, United States
Robert Young, beloved American actor best known for his role in *Father Knows Best*, passed away. His career helped define the family television sitcom in mid-20th-century America.
📍 Westlake Village, California, United States
Robert Burns Woodward, awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on organic synthesis, passed away. His discoveries significantly advanced pharmaceutical and biochemical research.
📍 Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
E.H. Shepard, beloved British illustrator known for bringing A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh and Kenneth Grahame’s *The Wind in the Willows* to life, passed away. His work remains iconic in children's literature.
📍 Midhurst, England
Following their historic moon landing, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin completed their moonwalk and returned to the Eagle lunar module, concluding humanity’s first extravehicular activity on the Moon.
📍 Moon – Sea of Tranquility
Basil Rathbone, widely recognized for portraying Sherlock Holmes in film and radio, died. His performance helped define the detective in popular culture and inspired generations of adaptations.
📍 New York City, United States
Ernest Hemingway’s memoir *A Moveable Feast* was published posthumously, offering insights into his life in 1920s Paris. The book became a literary classic and personal reflection on creativity.
📍 New York, United States
Rajendra Prasad, India's first President and a key leader in the independence movement, passed away. He played a pivotal role in drafting the Indian Constitution and establishing the republic.
📍 Patna, Bihar, India
U.S. forces landed on Guam in a major amphibious assault, beginning the recapture of the island from Japanese occupation during the Pacific campaign of World War II.
📍 Guam, Pacific Ocean
A.V. Dicey, a legal scholar known for defining the rule of law and parliamentary sovereignty, died. His principles remain foundational to British constitutional law and political theory worldwide.
📍 Oxford, England
The First Battle of Ypres concluded during World War I, with massive losses on both sides. It marked the start of trench warfare and symbolized the brutal stalemate on the Western Front.
📍 Ypres, Belgium
Claude Bernard, one of the most influential scientists of the 19th century, died. He established the scientific method in medicine and pioneered experimental physiology.
📍 Paris, France
The First Battle of Bull Run concluded with a Confederate victory, shocking the Union and dispelling hopes of a short Civil War. It was the first major battle of the conflict.
📍 Manassas, Virginia, United States
Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who united the Sikh confederacy into a powerful empire in Punjab and resisted British expansion, passed away. His rule is remembered for secular governance and military modernization.
📍 Lahore, Sikh Empire (now Pakistan)
Leopold I was sworn in as the first King of the Belgians, marking Belgium's formal independence from the Netherlands. This day became Belgium’s national holiday.
📍 Brussels, Belgium
On this day, the early draft of the Act of Union was accepted, setting in motion the political union between England and Scotland. The full union would be finalized in 1707, creating Great Britain.
📍 London, England