The second largest intraday point swing in Dow Jones Industrial Average history occurs.

Chaiten Volcano erupts in Chile, forcing the evacuation of more than 4,500 people.

Dutch politician Pim Fortuyn is assassinated by an animal rights activist.

During a trip to Syria, Pope John Paul II becomes the first pope to enter a mosque.

First elections to the devolved Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly held.

Kerry Wood strikes out 20 Houston Astros to tie the major league record held by Roger Clemens. He threw a one-hitter and did not walk a batter in his 5th career start.

The Bank of England is given independence from political control, the most significant change in the bank's 300-year history.

The body of former CIA director William Colby is found washed up on a riverbank in southern Maryland, eight days after he disappeared.

Former Arkansas state worker Paula Jones files suit against President Bill Clinton, alleging that he had sexually harassed her in 1991.

Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and French President François Mitterrand officiate at the opening of the Channel Tunnel.

Cedar Point opens Magnum XL-200, the first roller coaster to break the 200 ft height barrier, therefore spawning what is considered to be the "coaster wars".

103 Korean Martyrs are canonized by Pope John Paul II in Seoul

The Hitler diaries are revealed as a hoax after examination by experts.

A jury of architects and sculptors unanimously selects Maya Ying Lin's design for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial from 1,421 other entries.

An earthquake strikes Friuli, causing 989 deaths and the destruction of entire villages.

Deniz Gezmiş, Yusuf Aslan and Hüseyin İnan are executed in Ankara for attempting to overthrow the Constitutional order.

Myra Hindley and Ian Brady are sentenced to life imprisonment for the Moors Murders in England.

St. Martín de Porres is canonized by Pope John XXIII.

More than 20 million viewers watch the first televised royal wedding when Princess Margaret marries Anthony Armstrong-Jones at Westminster Abbey.

Roger Bannister becomes the first person to run the mile in under four minutes.

World War II: The Prague Offensive, the last major battle of the Eastern Front, begins.

World War II: Axis Sally delivers her last propaganda broadcast to Allied troops.

World War II: On Corregidor, the last American forces in the Philippines surrender to the Japanese.

The first flight of the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt.

At California's March Field, Bob Hope performs his first USO show.

John Steinbeck is awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his novel ''The Grapes of Wrath''.

Hindenburg disaster: The German zeppelin ''Hindenburg'' catches fire and is destroyed within a minute while attempting to dock at Lakehurst, New Jersey. Thirty-six people are killed.

The first flight of the Curtiss P-36 Hawk. thumb

New Deal: Executive Order 7034 creates the Works Progress Administration.

George V becomes King of the United Kingdom upon the death of his father, Edward VII.

The Eiffel Tower is officially opened to the public at the Universal Exposition in Paris.

The United States Congress passes the Chinese Exclusion Act.

Thomas Henry Burke and Lord Frederick Cavendish are stabbed and killed during the Phoenix Park Murders in Dublin.

Chief Crazy Horse of the Oglala Sioux surrenders to United States troops in Nebraska.

American Civil War: The Battle of Chancellorsville ends with the defeat of the Army of the Potomac by Confederate troops.

American Civil War: Richmond, Virginia is declared the new capital of the Confederate States of America.

American Civil War: Arkansas secedes from the Union.

The British East India Company disbands the 34th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry whose sepoy Mangal Pandey had earlier revolted against the British and is considered to be the First Martyr in the War of Indian Independence.

The Penny Black postage stamp becomes valid for use in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

James Gordon Bennett, Sr. publishes the first issue of the ''New York Herald''.

The American Bible Society is founded in New York City.

Battle of Prague (1757)|Battle of Prague

English poet Christopher Smart is admitted into St Luke's Hospital for Lunatics in London, beginning his six-year confinement to mental asylums.

Louis XIV of France moves his court to Versailles.

Francis Xavier reaches Old Goa, the capital of Portuguese India at the time.

King Henry VIII orders English language Bibles be placed in every church.

Spanish and German troops sack Rome; some consider this the end of the Renaissance. 147 Swiss Guards, including their commander, die fighting the forces of Charles V in order to allow Pope Clement VII to escape into Castel Sant'Angelo.