Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi is born. His best known opera is Nabucco.
In 1965, at the American Yale University the oldest known map of America is presented. It was drawn by the Norwegian explorer Lief Eriksson in about 1440.
In 1971 the English sold their famous bridge, London Bridge, which on this day was put up again in Lake Havas City in Arizona.
In 1975 for the second time Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor got married. They divorced a year later. The stars, who first married in 1965, appeared together in eleven films.
In 1985 American film director and actor Orson Welles dies. He was one of the film giants, and his film Citizen Kane is considered one of the all time greatest films.
In 1985 actor Yul Brynner also dies.
In 2004 actor Christopher Reeve dies. He is best known for his role as Superman.
MUSIC HISTORY
1956 – Elvis Presley begins a 19 week marathon on the American charts with his song "Love Me Tender"; it was No.1 for 5 weeks.
1963 - Brian Poole and The Tremeloes took the top spot on the British singles chart with 'Do You Love Me.'
1970 - Black Sabbath is at the top of the British charts with their album 'Paranoid.' This album is still considered as a classic among Heavy Metal albums.
1987 - Whitesnake is at the top of the American singles chart with 'Here I Go Again'.
1992 - R.E.M. is No. 1 on the British albums chart with 'Automatic For The People', on the album are also the songs 'Drive', 'Everybody Hurts' and 'Man On The Moon'.
1999 - Christina Aguilera is at the top of the British singles chart with 'Genie In A Bottle.' She received a Grammy award for this song.
BORN ON THIS DAY
1955 - David Lee Roth, singer in the group Van Halen (1984 'Jump').
1955 – singer and guitarist Midge Ure (1985 'If I was').
1960 - Eric Martin, singer in the group Mr. Big (1992 'To Be With You').
1961 - Martin Kemp, bass singer in Spandau Ballet (1983 'True').