Microsoft introduced Windows 3.0, featuring improved graphics, multitasking, and a user-friendly interface. It became the first widely successful version of Windows, launching the platform into mainstream computing.
📍 Redmond, Washington, United States
Europe Day was established to commemorate the Schuman Declaration and celebrate peace and unity in Europe. It is one of the EU’s official symbols, marked by cultural events and educational programs.
📍 Brussels, Belgium
India launched its first satellite, Aryabhata, from the Soviet Union, marking the beginning of its space program. The mission symbolized technological progress and laid the foundation for ISRO's future achievements.
📍 Kapustin Yar, Soviet Union
Richard Adams published *Watership Down*, a fantasy novel about a group of rabbits searching for a new home. It became a beloved classic and a landmark in children's and speculative literature.
📍 United Kingdom
Tennis champion Billie Jean King became the first female athlete in history to earn over $100,000 in a single season, setting new standards for women’s sports and pay equality in professional athletics.
📍 United States
Physicist Theodore Maiman operated the first working laser at Hughes Research Laboratories. His ruby laser breakthrough launched a new era in optics, enabling innovations from medicine to telecommunications.
📍 Malibu, California, United States
Jamal Khashoggi, a prominent Saudi journalist known for his criticism of the Saudi government and advocacy for press freedom, was born. His assassination in 2018 drew international outrage and condemnation.
📍 Medina, Saudi Arabia
The inaugural final of the European Cup, now the UEFA Champions League, was played between Real Madrid and Stade de Reims. Real Madrid won 4–3, beginning their legacy as European football giants.
📍 Paris, France
French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman proposed integrating European coal and steel industries, laying the foundation for the European Coal and Steel Community. This initiative later evolved into the European Union.
📍 Paris, France
The Soviet Union officially celebrated Victory Day to mark the defeat of Nazi Germany and the end of the Great Patriotic War. The date is still commemorated across Russia and Eastern Europe with military parades and remembrance.
📍 Moscow, Soviet Union (now Russia)
Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel, on behalf of the German High Command, signed the final instrument of surrender in Berlin, effectively ending Nazi Germany’s role in WWII and confirming total Allied victory in Europe.
📍 Berlin, Germany
French poet Paul Éluard published his iconic Resistance poem *Liberté* in clandestine publications during Nazi-occupied France. It became a powerful symbol of hope and defiance during World War II.
📍 Paris, France
The first televised political campaign took place as Franklin D. Roosevelt's address was broadcast to a limited television audience, marking the start of a new era in political communication.
📍 New York City, United States
British archaeologist Howard Carter opened the sealed inner burial chamber of Pharaoh Tutankhamun in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings, revealing treasures that sparked global fascination with ancient Egypt.
📍 Valley of the Kings, Egypt
Nearly 500 years after her death, Joan of Arc was officially canonized as a saint by Pope Benedict XV. The ceremony recognized her role in French history and enduring legacy as a martyr and national hero.
📍 Rome, Italy
Italy formally declared war on Austria-Hungary, joining the Allies in World War I. The move opened a new front in the conflict and marked Italy’s departure from the Triple Alliance.
📍 Rome, Italy
After a nationwide funeral procession, President Abraham Lincoln was buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield. His burial marked the conclusion of national mourning after his assassination in April 1865.
📍 Springfield, Illinois, United States
France officially confirmed the abolition of slavery in its colonies following the decree issued earlier that year. This historic move affected over 250,000 enslaved people in the Caribbean and beyond.
📍 Paris, France
John Brown, the radical abolitionist who led the raid on Harpers Ferry and became a martyr for the anti-slavery movement, was born in Connecticut. His legacy profoundly influenced the course of the U.S. Civil War.
📍 Torrington, Connecticut, United States
Benjamin Franklin published the first American political cartoon, 'Join, or Die,' in the Pennsylvania Gazette. It became a symbol of colonial unity and early American revolutionary sentiment.
📍 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States