the greatest Roman poet Publius Vergilius Maro – Vergil is born.
In Moscow, the 1814 Russian writer and poet Mikhail Lermontov Jurjevič is born. He became one of the leading representatives of Russian Romanticism. His best-known novel is Hero of Our Time.
In 1844, in mountain village of Vrsno below Krn Slovenian poet Simon Gregorčič is born. He was called the "Nightingale of Gorizia." He mainly wrote patriotic songs.
In 1844 the German philosopher, critic and writer Fridrich Nietzsche is born. Among his key ideas were perspectivism, the Will to Power, the "death of God", and eternal recurrence.
In 1917 a Dutch spy Mata Hari was executed by firing squad in France under charges of espionage for Germany during World War.
In 1920, in New York one of the most famous writers of Mafia novels Mario Puzo is born. He is best known for the Mafia trilogy The Godfather.
In 2003, the Chinese send into the Earth's orbit the first Chinese manned spacecraft and thus following the U.S.A. and the Soviet Union became the third nation in the world to put a man into space.
MUSIC HISTORY
1966 – at the No. 1 spot on the American charts is the group The Four Tops with the song 'Reach Out And I'll Be There'.
1972 – on the British charts in the top spot is the group Lieutenant Pigeon with the song 'Mouldy Old Dough.
1977 – No 1 on the American charts is the song 'You Light Up My Life' by Debby Boone.
1988 – placed at the top of both the American and British single charts is 'Red Red Wine' by the group UB40.
2000 - U2 take the top spot on the world charts with 'Beautiful Day'.
BORN ON THIS DAY
1942 – British pop singer Chris Andrews.
1946 - Richard Carpenter, vocalist and keyboards player in the group The Carpenters.
1947 – Irish singer Chris De Burgh ('The Lady In Red').
1953 - Tito Jackson, brother of Michael and Janet Jackson, member of The Jackson Five