Internet based company, Yahoo!, had its initial public offering. It sold 2.6 million shares at 13 dollars each.

Euro Disney opened in Marne-la-Vallee, France.

American boxer, Sugar Ray Robinson, died at the age of 68. He was five times middleweight champion of the world who held an incredible record of 175 wins, 19 losses, 6 draws and 2 no contests in 202 professional fights.

The Columbia space shuttle was launched for the first time. This launch marked the first ever launch of the space shuttle type of spacecraft, which has been in use by NASA for over 2 decades.

American boxer, Joe Louis, died at the age of 67. He was the world heavyweight champion in boxing for almost 12 straight years.

Soviet astronaut, Yuri Gagarin, became the first man to fly in space.

Cuban actor, Andy Garcia, was born in Havana, Cuba. His family fled to the United States after Fidel Castro came to power in Cuba.

American author, Tom Clancy, was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He is best known for his novel The hunt of red october and its sequels. He is one of the best selling novelists of the 20th century.

American talk show host, David Letterman, was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. He has hosted one of the most successful and controversial talk shows in American Television history.

Syria gained its independence. It had been under French rule since 1920.

US President Franklin D. Roosevelt died at the age of 63. He served four terms as president of the US between the years of 1933 and 1945.

The American Civil War began with the first military action taken against Fort Sumter, in the harbour of Charleston, South Carolina.

The interrogation of Galileo Galilei by the Inquisition began. He was accused of being a heretic and was found guilty, he spent time in prison and all the rest of his life under house arrest. He is considered to be the father of astronomy and modern physics.

Great Britain adopted the 'The Union Jack' as its national flag.