American postal Inspector, Robert Moon, died at the age of 83. He was the inventor of the postal ZIP code system.

The Soviet Union admitted to committing the Katyn Wood Massacre. It was a mass execution of Polish army officers and citizens, ordered by Soviet authorities in 1940. Overall an estimated 30000 people were executed in the span of one month.

China and Portugal sign an agreement by which Macao would be returned to China in 1999.

Russian chess player, Garry Kasparov, was born. He became the youngest ever World Chess Champion in 1985 and held the position for 15 years. He retired from competitive chess in 2005.

The mass grave of Polish prisoners of war is discovered in the woods of Katyn. They were executed by Soviet forces in what has been historically known as the "Katyn Wood Massacre". Over 20 thousand Polish reserve officers were killed each with a bullet in the head.

Japan and the Soviet Union signed a pact of Neutrality.

Greek actress, Ellie Lampeti, was born in Vilia, Attika. She was one of Greece's most celebrated actresses.

Hungary became a republic.

Italian inventor, Antonio Meucci, was born in San Frediano, italy. He is considered by many the inventor of the Telephone. In modern day there has been a wide ranging debate as to whether he or Alexander Graham Bell was actually the inventor of the telephone. In more recent years it has been widely accepted that Meucci's contributions are what actually led to the creation of the telephone.

Politician, Thomas Jefferson, was born in the territory of Virginia. He was one of the founders of the United States of America and was the author of the Declaration of Independence. He also served as the 3rd president of the United States.

The army of the Fourth Crusade sacked the Byzantine capital city of Constantinople, effectively marking the end of the fourth crusade.