An earthquake measuring 7 on the Richter scale hit the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku. 25 people died and tens of buildings suffered extensive damage.

Suriname gained its independence from the Netherlands. It was formely known as Dutch Guiana and is the country with the least population in the South American continent.

American, John F. Kennedy, Jr., was born in Washington, D.C. He was the son of President John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. He died in a plane crash in 1999.

England's national football team was defeated on home ground for the first time in their history. Hungary had broken England's undefeated home run which had lasted since 1901.

Agatha Christie's play, The Mousetrap, premiered at the Ambassadors theatre in London. It is the longest running play in theater history, still being performed today (2006).

The People's Republic of China entered the Korean War when it sent thousands of troops to fight United Nations forces.

The cartoon character of Woody Woodpecker appeared for the first time in the animated short film 'Knock Knock'.

Mexican actor, Ricardo Montalban, was born in Mexico City. He is best known for his role as Mr. Roarke in the television series Fantasy Island and for his portrayal of the villain Khan in Star Trek II.

Chilean dictator, Augusto Pinochet, was born in Valparaiso, Chile. He ruled Chile from 1973 to 1990 after a military coup which deposed the Socialist President Salvador Allende.

German engineer, Karl Benz, was born in Karlsruhe. He was a pioneer of the automobile industry and the founder of the Benz Company, which was one of the predecessors of the Mercedes-Benz company (now DaimlerChrysler).

A severe cyclone hit the city of Coringa in India producing huge waves which laid waste to the city. The port city was never rebuilt to the state it was prior to the disaster, which claimed the lives of over 300,000 people.

In Great Britain a severe wind storm with winds that had an approximate velocity of 120 mph, caused widespread devastation and the death of over 9,000 people. it has been known in history as The Great Storm of 1703.

A strong earthquake hit Caucasus mountains killed an estimated 80,000 people.

The armies of the kingdom of Jerusalem defeated the army of Saladin at the Battle of Montgisard.