British, Harold Shipman, committed suicide in his prison cell. He was a serial killer, possibly the most active serial killer of all time, who allegedly overdosed approximately 250 of his patients. He had been sentenced to life imprisonment.

The musical show ''The Fantasticks'' was performed for the last time, after almost 42 years and more than 17,000 performances.

A strong earthquake hit San Salvador, El Salvador, killing more than 1000 people.

Soviet Union troops killed 14 and injured almost 200 Lithuanian independence supporters in Lithuania's capital, Vilnius.

An Air Florida passenger flight crashed into Washington, DC's 14th Street Bridge shortly after takeoff resulting in the death of killing 74 passengers and 4 people on the ground.

English actor, Orlando Bloom, was born in Canterbury, Kent. He was catapulted to fame after staring in the hit movies, The Lord of the Rings films, and Pirates of the Caribbean.

A military coup took place in Ghana. Colonel Ignatius Kutu Acheamphong became the new Head of State until 1978 when he himself was deposed after another coup.

American actor, Patrick Dempsey, was born in Maine. He was prominent actor of the late 1980s and 1990's, and star of the popular television medical drama, Grey's Anatomy.

American actress, Penelope Ann Miller, was born in Los Angeles.

Irish writer, James Joyce, died at the age of 59. He is widely recognized as one of the most important writers of the 20th century.

The first issue of the 'Daily Universal Register' was published by John Walter. In 1788 the newspaper was renamed to 'The Times', the name under which it is still published today (2006).