A fire at a nightclub in Rhode Island, USA, resulted in the death of 100 people.

Two 10 year old boys were charged with the abduction and murder of a two year old boy in Liverpool, England.

The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SATO) was disbanded. Similar to NATO it was created to counter communist advances in Southeast Asia.

American model, Cindy Crawford, was born in Illinois. She was one of the group of models that were characterised by the term supermodel in the 1980's and 1990's.

American, Patty Hearst, was born in San Francisco, California. She is the granddaughter of publishing tycoon, William Randolph Hearst. She became famous worldwide when in 1974 after being kidnapped she joined with her kidnappers in robbing a bank. She was subsequently arrested and sentenced to prison, however her prison sentence was commuted by US president Jimmy Carter. She also received a full pardon by president Bill Clinton on the last day of his presidency.

After the end of the second world war the state of Prussia was abolished.

American actor, Sidney Poitier, was born in Florida. He was the first actor of African descent to win the best actor Academy award.

American film director, Robert Altman, was born in Kansas City, Missouri. He is most known for directing the hit movie MASH, which also spun the ever popular television series by the same name.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art opened in New York City. it is one of the most famous and visited museums in the world.

The Chilean city of Concepcion was almost entirely destroyed by a powerful earthquake.

Gioachino Rossini's opera, The Barber of Seville, premiered at the Teatro Argentina in Rome. Although the first performance met with severe criticism and jeering, the second performance was met with much better results. It has become one of the most performed opera's of all time.