Canterbury earthquake: a 7.1 magnitude earthquake which struck the South Island of New Zealand at 4:35 am causing widespread damage and several power outages.

Google is founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, two students at Stanford University.

War on Drugs: Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) attack a military base in Guaviare, starting three weeks of guerrilla warfare in which at least 130 Colombians are killed.

The discovery of Buckminsterfullerene, the first fullerene molecule of carbon.

The Golden Dragon Massacre took place in San Francisco, California.

The Sinai Interim Agreement relating to the Arab-Israeli conflict is signed.

Mark Spitz becomes the first competitor to win seven medals at a single Olympic Games.

A Boeing 727 carrying Alaska Airlines Flight 1866 crashes near Juneau, Alaska, killing all 111 people on board.

Vietnam War: Operation Swift begins: U.S. Marines engage the North Vietnamese in battle in the Que Son Valley.

Scotland's Forth Road Bridge near Edinburgh officially opens.

Swissair Flight 306 crashes near Dürrenäsch, Switzerland, killing all 80 people on board.

The Ford Motor Company introduces the Edsel.

African-American Civil Rights Movement (1955-1968)|American Civil Rights Movement: Little Rock Crisis

The IBM RAMAC 305 is introduced, the first commercial computer to use magnetic disk storage.

The first live transcontinental television broadcast takes place in San Francisco, California, from the Japanese Peace Treaty Conference.

First appearance of the "Beetle Bailey" comic strip.

Darlington Raceway is the site of the inaugural Southern 500, the first 500-mile NASCAR race.

The Peekskill Riots erupt after a Paul Robeson concert in Peekskill, New York.

Maiden flight of the Bristol Brabazon.

Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands abdicates for health reasons.

World War II: the British 11th Armoured Division liberates the Belgian city of Antwerp.

World War II: a German submarine makes the first attack against a United States ship, the {{USS|Greer|DD-145|6}}.

Maiden flight of the first U.S. airship, the {{USS|Shenandoah|ZR-1|6}}.

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who founded the Republic of Turkey, gathers a congress in Sivas to make decisions as to the future of Anatolia and Thrace.

In New York City, 12,000 tailors strike against sweatshop working conditions.

George Eastman registers the trademark ''Kodak'' and receives a patent for his camera that uses roll film.

Indian Wars: after almost 30 years of fighting, Apache leader Geronimo, with his remaining warriors, surrenders to General Nelson Miles in Arizona.

The United Kingdom ends its policy of penal transportation to New South Wales in Australia.

Emperor Napoleon III of France is deposed and the Third Republic is declared.

Civil War Maryland Campaign: General Robert E. Lee takes the Army of Northern Virginia, and the war, into the North.

War of 1812: The Siege of Fort Harrison begins when the fort is set on fire.

Coup of 18 fructidor an V in France.

Los Angeles, California, is founded as El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora La Reina de los Ángeles de Porciúncula (The Village of Our Lady, the Queen of the Angels of Porziuncola) by 44 Spanish settlers.

In London, England, the most destructive damage from the Great Fire occurs.

The Sienese Ghibellines, supported by the forces of King Manfred of Sicily, defeat the Florentine Guelphs at Montaperti.

Li Shimin, posthumously known as Emperor Taizong of Tang, assumes the throne over the Tang Dynasty of China.

Romulus Augustus, last emperor of the Western Roman Empire, is deposed when Odoacer proclaims himself King of Italy, thus ending Western Roman Empire.