In Lebanon, 102 innocent people were killed after Israeli forces fired shells in the UN compound of Qana. The incident was deemed an accident by the Israeli government.

A suicide bomber detonated a van filled with explosives outside the United States embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, killing 63 people. The van was stolen from the embassy earlier the same year.

The British colony of Rhodesia is renamed to 'The Republic of Zimbabwe' after gaining its independence.

The Roland Corporation was founded in Osaka, Japan. Roland is the company best known for manufacturing electronic musical instruments.

American actress, Grace Kelly, married Prince Rainier of Monaco.

Albert Einstein died in Princeton, New Jersey, at the age of 76.

Canadian comedian, Rick Moranis, was born in Toronto, Ontario. He is famous for his participation in family type movies, such as the Ghostbusters, Little Shop of Horrors, and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. He partially retired from acting in 1996, after his wife died of liver cancer in 1991, in order to concentrate on raising his children.

The Irish Republic was proclaimed.

American actor, James Woods, was born in Vernal, Utah. He is an avid poker and video games player.

The League of Nations was officially dissolved and all its activities were transfered to the newly formed United Nations.

Over 1000 allied planes bombed the island of Heligoland, Germany. The island housed one of the largest naval bases of Nazi Germany during the first and Second World War.

An earthquake, estimated at a magnitude of around 7.8 Richter, struck the city of San Francisco, California. Most of the city was destroyed and several thousands of people died as a result of the earthquake and the large scale fires that ensued afterwards.

A Force 4 tornado struck the town of Marshfield, Missouri, 99 people died and more than 150 were injured.

Italian potician, Lucrezia Borgia, was born in Subiaco. She remains an almost mythical figure, synonymous with political corruption, murder and incest, although there has never been any proof of the allegations that have plagued her name throughout history.