Following the collapse of the San José mine in northern Chile, early rescue efforts and engineering assessments began on this day. The eventual rescue of 33 trapped miners became a global sensation.
📍 Atacama Desert, Chile
Peter Sellers, the acclaimed British actor known for his roles in *Dr. Strangelove*, *The Pink Panther*, and *Being There*, died of a heart attack. His comic genius influenced generations of performers.
📍 London, United Kingdom
The last American troops stationed in Thailand for operations during the Vietnam War departed, symbolizing a final U.S. military withdrawal from Southeast Asia after the war's official end.
📍 U-Tapao Air Base, Thailand
NASA’s Apollo 11 mission concluded as astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, marking the successful end of the first crewed Moon landing.
📍 Pacific Ocean (USS Hornet Recovery Area)
U.S. Vice President Richard Nixon and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev engaged in the impromptu 'Kitchen Debate' in a model American kitchen at a Moscow exhibition, symbolizing Cold War tensions and ideological rivalry.
📍 Moscow, Soviet Union
The International Whaling Commission (IWC) held its inaugural meeting in Washington, D.C., aiming to regulate whale hunting and protect whale populations amid growing conservation concerns.
📍 Washington, D.C., United States
Hans Fischer, German chemist awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his research on hemin and chlorophyll, died. His work contributed significantly to our understanding of blood and plant pigments.
📍 Munich, Germany
William Gillette, an American actor and playwright best known for defining the theatrical image of Sherlock Holmes—including the deerstalker hat and pipe—died. His portrayal influenced countless adaptations.
📍 Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly solo nonstop across the United States, from Los Angeles to Newark. Her achievement marked a major milestone in women’s aviation history.
📍 Los Angeles, California to Newark, New Jersey, United States
The Treaty of Lausanne was signed by Turkey and Allied powers, officially ending hostilities from World War I and recognizing the sovereignty of the modern Turkish Republic under Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
📍 Lausanne, Switzerland
Zelda Fitzgerald, writer, artist, and cultural icon of the Roaring Twenties, was born. Wife of F. Scott Fitzgerald, she symbolized the flapper era and contributed to modern feminist discourse.
📍 Montgomery, Alabama, United States
Isaac Singer, American inventor and entrepreneur known for developing one of the first practical sewing machines, died. His innovations revolutionized textile manufacturing and home sewing.
📍 Torquay, England
Franz Xaver Winterhalter, famed German portraitist of 19th-century European royalty and aristocracy, died. His lush, elegant style defined the visual image of numerous monarchs including Queen Victoria.
📍 Frankfurt, Germany
Martin Van Buren, the eighth U.S. President and founder of the Democratic Party, died. He was known for his role in shaping modern political parties and guiding the U.S. through economic turmoil.
📍 Kinderhook, New York, United States
Brigham Young and the first Mormon pioneers arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, Utah, marking the beginning of large-scale Mormon settlement in the western United States.
📍 Salt Lake Valley, Utah, United States
Simón Bolívar was declared the Liberator of Peru by the Peruvian Congress for his efforts in defeating Spanish rule in South America, further advancing the independence of Latin American nations.
📍 Lima, Peru
The American School for the Deaf officially opened in Hartford, Connecticut, becoming the first permanent school for the hearing-impaired in the U.S. It marked a milestone in inclusive education.
📍 Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Alexandre Dumas, one of France’s most famous writers and the author of *The Three Musketeers* and *The Count of Monte Cristo*, was born. His adventurous novels have become timeless literary classics.
📍 Villers-Cotterêts, France
The Residence Act was signed into law, officially designating Washington, D.C. as the permanent capital of the United States, fulfilling a major compromise between northern and southern states.
📍 Washington, D.C., United States
British forces landed in Galicia, Spain as part of the War of the Quadruple Alliance, aiming to check Spanish ambitions in Italy and restore the European balance of power.
📍 Galicia, Spain