Two simultaneous bombings took place in the African capital cities of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and Nairobi, Kenya. Both were directed at the US embassies in those cities. 227 people died in the explosions and more than 4000 were injured in the attacks which were the first major terrorist acts to be associated with the then newly formed al-Qaeda network.

After 128 years of publication the Washington Star newspaper stopped being printed.

South African actress, Charlize Theron, was born in Benoni. She has stared in such box office successes as The Devil's Advocate, The Cider House Rules, and Mighty Joe Young. In 2003 Theron won the Best Actress academy award for her role in the movie, Monster.

Singapore became a separate nation from the Federation of Malaysia.

During the course of the Second World War the battle of Guadalcanal began. The battle, which was actually a campaign, lasted well over six months and was one of the most decisive campaigns of the Second World War.

Ethiopian athlete, Abebe Bikila, was born in the village of Jato. He was a two-time Olympic marathon champion. He won his first gold in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome where he became famous for running barefoot.

Dutch dancer and spy, Mata Hari, was born in Leeuwarden, The Netherlands. She was accused of being a spy for Germany during World War I and was found guilty by a French court which sentenced her to death by firing squad. To this day it remains a matter of controversy as to whether or not she was actually a spy or not.

The battle of Boyaca took ended with the defeat of the Spanish forces. The battle was the last in Colombia's (then known as New Granada) battle for independence.

The United States War Department was established.

Roman Emperor Henry IV died at the age of 55. His reign was marked by the investiture controversy, which was the most significant conflict between secular and religious powers in medieval Europe.