Facts & Historical Events On This Day.
Jessi Combs broke the female fastest land speed record when her jet-powered vehicle reached a speed of 522.783 mph (841.338 kph).
Mars made its closest approach to Earth in nearly 60,000 years.
Moldova declared its independence from the Soviet Union.
Disney's Mary Poppins was released and premiered at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles.
For the first time in history, the BBC (British Broadcasting Company) transmitted a two-hour-long live broadcast from Calais, France, to television screens in the UK.
The world's first jet-powered aircraft, the Heinkel He 178, completed its first flight.
Two baseball teams played a night match at White Sox Party using three 100-foot towers lit with 12 electric lamps.
In Java, Indonesia, the Krakatoa volcano erupted and destroyed 70% of the island and its surroundings.
Hurricane Five struck Florida and caused 700 fatalities.
American driller Edwin Laurentine Drake successfully drilled the first oil well in Pennsylvania, US.
Napoleon won the battle of Dresden against the Austrians.
Jacques Charles and the Robert brothers released the first-ever unmanned hydrogen balloon.
The British defeated the Americans in the Battle of Long Island, also known as the Battle of Brooklyn.
Chinese and Korean forces won the two-day Battle of Baekgangon.
