The People's Republic of China launched the Shenzhou 1 spacecraft which carried their first ever astronaut to space.

American film director, Alan J. Pakula, died at the age of 70. He was a celebrated director who directed such hit movies as To Kill A Mockingbird, All the President's Men and Presumed Innocent.

Music group Milli Vanilli were stripped of their Grammy Award following the revelation that the vocals of their albums were all sung by session musicians and not the two members of the group.

Egyptian President Anwar Sadat went on an official visit to Israel. He was the first ever Arab leader to officially visit the state of Israel since its creation in 1948.

American actor, Jason Scott Lee, was born in Los Angeles. He portrayed legendary martial arts figure Bruce lee in the movie 'Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story'. Contrary to rumors that circulated at the time of the movie's release he is not related to Bruce Lee in any way.

The countries of Sweden, Afghanistan and Iceland were admitted to the United Nations.

During the Battle of Stalingrad the forces of the Soviet Union begin a series of counter attacks on the Garman forces marking what is considered the turning point of the war in the Russian front.

American fashion designer, Calvin Klein, was born in New York.

Union President Abraham Lincoln delivers the Gettysburg Address during the ceremony for the dedication of the military cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It is one of the most famous and most quoted political speeches ever made.