The first Swatch watches were introduced to the public.

Charlie Chaplin's body was stolen from the Swiss cemetery it was buried at. The theft was part of a plot to extort money from Chaplin's family, which failed and the culprits were apprehended.

The Ba'ath Party seized power in Syria. It is still in control of the country.

An American Airlines passenger flight crashed while it was taking off from New York, resulting in the death of all 95 on board.

The United States detonated a 15 megaton hydrogen bomb on the Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. It was the most powerful nuclear device ever detonated by the United States.

Construction of the Hoover Dam was completed. Construction had began in 1931 and was actually scheduled to be completed in 1938.

American musician and actor, Harry Belafonte, was born in Harlem, New York. He was one of the most successful American song artists who enjoyed tremendous success between the 1950's and 1970's.

Israeli politician, Yitzhak Rabin, was born in Jerusalem. He was the prime minister of Israel from 1974 until 1977 and again from 1992 till his assassination in 1995. He was assassinated by a right-wing Israeli radical who was opposed to Rabin's signing of the Oslo Accords. He was the both the first prime minister of Israel to have been born in it and the only Israeli prime minister to be assassinated.

British actor, David Niven, was born in London. He was one of the most popular British actors of his time who also served in the Second World War with the British Commandos and also was among the British forces that landed at Normandy.

Greek conductor and composer, Dimitri Mitropoulos, was born in Athens. He spent most of his career in the United States, where he was the conductor of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra between the years 1951 and 1957.

The United States annexed the Republic of Texas.

Polish composer, Frederic Chopin, was born in Zelazowa Wola. He is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest composers of piano music.

Ohio was admitted as the 17th US state.

The city of Rio de Janeiro was founded by the Portuguese knight, Estacio de Sa. The name means, River of January, and it was thus named in honour of the Portuguese explorers who reached Guanabara Bay in January 20, 1502. The city served as the capital of Brazil from 1763 to 1960.

More than 1000 French protestands (Huguenots) were massacred by Catholics in Wassy, France. The event is considered as the start of the French Wars of Religion.