Amazon.com went live, initially selling books online. Founded by Jeff Bezos, it grew into the world’s largest e-commerce platform and reshaped global retail and cloud computing industries.
📍 Seattle, Washington, United States
Harry Chapin, known for hits like 'Cat’s in the Cradle' and for his hunger relief activism, died in a car crash at age 38. He was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his humanitarian work.
📍 New York, United States
Soyuz 19 launched from the Soviet Union as part of the Apollo–Soyuz Test Project, the first international manned space mission. The docking with Apollo 18 symbolized Cold War détente.
📍 Baikonur Cosmodrome, Soviet Union
Miguel Ángel Asturias, Guatemalan novelist and diplomat, died. A Nobel laureate, he was a leading voice in Latin American literature and a champion of indigenous rights and anti-colonialism.
📍 Madrid, Spain
Apollo 11 launched from Kennedy Space Center with astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins aboard, beginning humanity’s historic journey to the Moon.
📍 Cape Kennedy, Florida, United States
The U.S. launched Discoverer 13, part of the CORONA spy satellite program, and successfully recovered its capsule from space—marking a major milestone in reconnaissance and satellite technology.
📍 Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, United States
Reggie Jackson, one of Major League Baseball’s most iconic sluggers, was born. Known as 'Mr. October' for his postseason heroics, he played a major role in the Yankees' and Athletics' championships.
📍 Wyncote, Pennsylvania, United States
The United States conducted the Trinity Test in New Mexico, detonating the first nuclear bomb in history. This event marked the dawn of the atomic age and led to the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
📍 Alamogordo, New Mexico, United States
The Potsdam Conference began near Berlin, where Allied leaders Truman, Churchill, and Stalin negotiated the post-war order in Europe, including demilitarization and the division of Germany.
📍 Potsdam, Germany
The first-ever parking meter was installed in Oklahoma City, revolutionizing urban traffic control and municipal finance. It marked the beginning of regulated street parking worldwide.
📍 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
Portland, Oregon opened the Steel Bridge, notable for being one of the only double-deck vertical-lift bridges in the world. It remains an engineering landmark used for rail, car, and pedestrian traffic.
📍 Portland, Oregon, United States
Clara Bow, silent film superstar and 1920s sex symbol, was born. As the 'It Girl,' she defined the flapper era and helped transition Hollywood from silent films to talkies.
📍 Brooklyn, New York, United States
Trygve Lie, a Norwegian politician and diplomat, was born. He became the first Secretary-General of the United Nations, playing a pivotal role in the organization's formation and early peacekeeping efforts.
📍 Oslo, Norway
Heinrich Hertz, the German physicist who proved the existence of electromagnetic waves, died at age 36. His work laid the foundation for modern radio, radar, and wireless communications.
📍 Bonn, German Empire
Mary Todd Lincoln, wife of President Abraham Lincoln, died. Her life was marked by personal tragedy and mental health struggles, but she also played a key role during the American Civil War.
📍 Springfield, Illinois, United States
The U.S. Congress passed the Organic Act of 1871, reorganizing the District of Columbia under a single territorial government. It laid the groundwork for the modern governance of the U.S. capital.
📍 Washington, D.C., United States
British forces captured Fort Stikine in Karachi, leading to the complete annexation of Sindh by the British East India Company. This marked the expansion of British colonial rule in South Asia.
📍 Karachi, Sindh (present-day Pakistan)
Leopold Mozart, a respected composer and violinist best known as the father and early teacher of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, died in Salzburg. His musical guidance shaped one of history’s greatest composers.
📍 Salzburg, Austria
Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, known as El Cid, died after leading military campaigns during the Reconquista. A legendary figure in Spanish history, he became a symbol of Christian resistance against Muslim rule.
📍 Valencia, Spain
Gaius Caesar, adopted son and heir of Emperor Augustus, died from wounds suffered during military campaigns. His death altered the imperial succession and reshaped Roman political dynamics.
📍 Lycia, Roman Empire (modern-day Turkey)