Polish Air Force Tu-154M crashes near Smolensk, Russia, killing all 96 people on board including President Lech Kaczyński.

The Maraghar Massacre, killing of ethnic Armenian civil population of the village Maraghar by Azerbaijani troops during the Nagorno-Karabakh War.

A rare tropical storm develops in the South Atlantic Ocean near Angola; the first to be documented by satellites.

Italian ferry ''Moby Prince'' collides with an oil tanker in dense fog off Livorno, Italy killing 140.

Red River Valley Tornado Outbreak: A tornado lands in Wichita Falls, Texas killing 42 people.

A British Vanguard turboprop crashes during a snowstorm at Basel, Switzerland killing 104.

Vietnam War: For the first time since November 1967, American B-52 bombers reportedly begin bombing North Vietnam.

20 days after he is kidnapped in Buenos Aires, Oberdan Sallustro is executed by communist guerrillas.

Ping Pong Diplomacy: In an attempt to thaw relations with the United States, the People's Republic of China hosts the U.S. table tennis team for a weeklong visit.

Shipwreck of the New Zealand inter-island ferry TEV ''Wahine'' outside Wellington harbour.

129 people die when the submarine USS ''Thresher'' sinks at sea.

Akihito, future Emperor of Japan, weds Michiko.

The Suez Canal is reopened for all shipping after being closed for three months.

Warner Brothers premieres the first 3-D film from a major American studio, entitled ''House of Wax''.

Rudolf Vrba and Alfred Wetzler escape from the Birkenau death camp.

World War II: The Axis Powers in Europe establish the Independent State of Croatia from occupied Yugoslavia with Ante Pavelić's Ustaše fascist insurgents in power.

New Deal: The Civilian Conservation Corps is created.

''The Great Gatsby'' by F. Scott Fitzgerald is first published in New York City, by Charles Scribner's Sons.

Mexican Revolution leader Emiliano Zapata is ambushed and shot dead by government forces in Morelos.

The Professional Golfers Association of America (PGA) is created in New York City.

The ''Titanic'' leaves port in Southampton, England for her first and only voyage.

British mystic Aleister Crowley transcribes the third and final chapter of The Book of The Law.

On Easter Sunday, Pope Leo XIII authorizes the establishment of The Catholic University of America.

The first Arbor Day is celebrated in Nebraska.

José Martí founds the Cuban Revolutionary Party.

At Arogee in Abyssinia, British and Indian forces defeat an army of Emperor Tewodros II. While 700 Ethiopians are killed and many more injured, only two die from the British/Indian troops.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is founded in New York City by Henry Bergh.

American Civil War: A day after his surrender to Union forces, Confederate General Robert E. Lee addresses his troops for the last time.

Archduke Maximilian of Habsburg is elected emperor of Mexico.

The original Big Ben, a 14.5 tonne bell for the Palace of Westminster is cast in Stockton-on-Tees by Warner's of Cripplegate. This however cracked during testing and was recast into the 13.76 tonne bell by Whitechapel Bell Foundry and is still in use to date.

The Theta Chi Fraternity is founded at Norwich University.

The 10,500 inhabitants of the Greek town Messolonghi start leaving the town after a year's siege by Turkish forces. Very few of them survive.

Patriarch Gregory V of Constantinople is hanged by the Turks from the main gate of the Patriarchate and his body is thrown into the Bosphorus.

The United States Government approves the creation of the Second Bank of the United States.

The Mount Tambora volcano begins a three-month-long eruption, lasting until July 15. The eruption ultimately kills 71,000 people and affects Earth's climate for the next two years.

War of the Austrian Succession: Prussia defeats Austria in the Battle of Mollwitz.

The first law regulating copyright is issued in Great Britain.

The Charter of the Virginia Company of London is established by royal charter by James I of England with the purpose of establishing colonial settlements in North America.

Ludovico Sforza is captured by the Swiss troops at Novara and is handed over to the French.

the lama Deshin Shekpa visits the Ming Dynasty capital at Nanjing. He is awarded with the title Great Treasure Prince of Dharma.

Louis III becomes King of the Western Franks.