American television performer, Johnny Carson, died at the age of 79. He was the host of the famous television show known as 'The Tonight Show' which he hosted for host for 30 years.

Madeleine Albright was appointed as the first woman to ever serve as Secretary of State of the United States.

The Java programming language was first released.

Spanish artist, Salvador Dali, died at the age of 85. He is universally accepted one of the most important painters of the 20th century. He was heavily criticized as being a supporter of General Franco's fascist regime.

US president, Richard Nixon, announced to the world that a peace deal had been reached in Vietnam, effectively ending the war.

Norwegian painter, Edvard Munch, died at the age of 81. He is considered as one of the most influential expressionist painters of the 20th century.

The uprising of the Jewish ghetto in Warsaw took place.

Russian film director, Sergei Eisenstein, was born in Riga, Latvia (the part of the Russian Empire). He is widely considered as one of the most influential directors of all time. His movie, Battleship Potemkin, has been labelled as one of the most important and influential films of all time.

Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman doctor in the United States after receiving her diploma from the Medical Institute of Geneva, New York.

French painter, Edouard Manet, was born in Paris. He was one of the most important painters of the 19th century whose art server as the bridge between the movements of Realism and Impressionism.

French inventor, Claude Chappe, died at the age of 42. He was the inventor and facilitator of the optical telegraph.

Irish entrepreneur, Arthur Guinness, died at the age of 78. He was a brewer and the founder of Guinness Breweries.

Georgetown University was founded.