American actor, Don Ameche, died at the age of 85.

American musician, Roy Orbison, died at the age of 52. He was one of the most influential American singers and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music.

A group of IRA terrorists took a couple hostage in Balcombe Street, London. The situation lasted for 6 days when the terrorists surrendered after they had realized that their demands were not going to be met.

A French munitions ship collided with another ship in the port of Halifax, Canada, resulting in an explosion that killed almost 2000 people and caused damage kilometres away. It was the largest man-made explosion until the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.

Finland declared its independence from Russia.

An explosion in a coal mine at Monongah, West Virginia resulted in the death of 362 people. It was one of the worst mining accidents in history.

The first motorised taxi began to operate in the city of London, England.

The Washington Post newspaper was first published.

Slavery was abolished in the United States.

Italian author, Baldassare Castiglione, was born in Casatico, Italy. He was a diplomat and one of the most prominent authors of the Italian Renaissance.