John Harvard is born. Harvard University is named after him because he was the College’s first benefactor. Upon his death in 1638 he left his library and half his estate to the institution.
In 1800 Slovene poet Anton Martin Slomšek is born.
In 1865 the book Alice in Wonderland is published.
In 1868 Tokyo becomes the capital of Japan.
In 1894 Norbert Wiener, the founder of cybernetics is born. Cybernetics is a science that investigates the information transmission and processing in machinery, organisms and societies.
In 1939 James Naismith, who is recognised as the inventor of basketball, dies. In 1892 he published the rules of basketball.
In 1942 the seat of the first AVNOJ session is held in Bihač, the centre of the anti-fascist resistance. The Anti-Fascist Council of National Liberation of Yugoslavia was the supreme political body of emerging Yugoslavia.
In 1942, in New York's Hollywood Theatre the film movie Casablanca premieres.
In 1959 Slovenian engineer and sports professional Stanko Bloudek dies. He built the largest ski jump in the world in Planica, which is named the Bloudek Giant.
In 1964 Swiss Alpine skier Vreni Schneider is born. She won 55 World Cup races; only Anamarie Moser Pröll has won more.
MUSIC HISTORY
1962 - The Beatles record the song ‘Please Please Me’.
1994 - The Eagles are No. 1 on the American albums chart with 'Hell Freezes Over.' On the album are also "Tequila Sunrise", "Hotel California" and Take it easy’.
1994 - Boyz II Men are No. 1 on the American singles chart with 'I'll Make Love To You'.
BORN ON THIS DAY
1925 – singer Michael Holliday (1958 'The Story Of My Life').
1929 – Slovene musician Slavko Avsenik ('Na Golici').
1939 – singer Tina Turner, whose real name is Anna Mae Bullock. Her best known hits are We Don't Need Another Hero, Steamy Windows, Nutbush City Limits, Private Dancer, It Takes Two, and Addicted To Love.
1944 - Jean Terrell, singer in The Supremes ('Up The Ladder To The Roof').
1957 – German singer Matthias Reim ('Verdamt, ich lieb dich').