Robert Fulton, inventor of the steamboat, is born. His path to becoming an inventor started with him being a jewellery apprentice, and then continued as a painter. He thought how steam could be used, and in France the construction of submarines began. The results of the submarine Nautilus were unsuccessful. So once again he tried with steamers that were driven by mill wheels, and kept going by a steam engine. In 1807 he built the ship Clermont which finally brought him success.
In 1719 Leopold Mozart, father of composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, is born.
In 1889 Indian politician Džavaharlal Nehru is born.
In 1905 Slovene writer, playwright and poet Tone Čufar is born. His most extensive work was the novel Ljudje iz kleti, which remained unfinished. He was the editor of Delavski obzornik. After the outbreak of World War II he soon became active in the Slovene Liberation Front. He was arrested by Italian occupying authorities in Ljubljana and sent to a concentration camp. On 10 August 1942, he was transferred to Šentvid in order to be handed over to the Germans. He tried to escape and was shot dead.
In 1907 Astrid Lindgren is born. She became one of the most important 20th century writers of children's stories. Her works have been translated into more than fifty languages. She received her greatest award for Pippi Longstocking, for which a number of films and television series were recorded. The recording of one of her literary works, Erasmus and the Tramp was made here in Slovenia. She is also famous for many other works, such as The Brothers Lionheart, The Six Bullerby Children, and Ronia the Robber's daughter.
MUSIC HISTORY
1960 - Ray Charles takes the No.1 spot on the American singles chart with his song 'Georgia On My Mind'.
1969 - 'Sugar Sugar' by the group The Archies takes the No. 1 spot on the British singles chart.
1981 - 'Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic' by the group The Police is at the top of the British singles chart.
1987 - George Michael with his album 'Faith', takes the No. 1 spot on the British albums chart. On the album is also the title song.
1987 – The film album 'Dirty Dancing' is No. 1 on the American albums chart.
1987 - T'Pau with the song 'China In Your Hand' lands at the No. 1 spot on the British charts.
BORN ON THIS DAY
1956 - Alec John Such, bassist in the group Bon Jovi ('Living on a Prayer').
1966 - Joseph 'Run' Simmons, founder of the group Run-DMC (1998 'It's Like That')
