Actor Christopher Reeve was paralyzed from the neck down after falling from his horse in a riding competition in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru died while in office. He was a follower of Ghandi's ideals and one of the most influential persons in 20th century India.

In Turkey, military forces lead a coup d'etat. General Cemal Gursel became the 4th president of Turkey as a result of the coup.

The German battleship Bismarck sunk in the North Atlantic Ocean. Over 2,200 of its crew died. The ship was scuttled after it had suffered severe damage by the British ships that had been pursuing it.

The San Francisco landmark, the Golden Gate Bridge, opened to pedestrian traffic. Construction began in January 1933.

American statesman, Henry Kissinger, was born in Furth, Germany. He played a dominant role in United States foreign policy between 1969 and 1977.

British actor, Christopher Lee, was born in Belgravia, London. He became world famous for his portrayal of Count Dracula, opposite his fellow actor and friend Peter Cushing, in numerous productions of the Hammer Horror films studios. In the late 1990's and early 2000's he attained cult status, appearing in some of the most elaborate productions of the last 2 decades, such as the 'Lord of the Rings' and 'Star Wars' movies.

The first transatlantic flight was completed when the NC-4 arrived in Lisbon. The NC-4 was a United States Navy flying boat. It took 19 days for the plane to complete the journey, leaving from Long Island, New York and making several stops on the way. Only a month later the first non-stop journey would be completed, completely overshadowing the achievement of the NC-4.

American actor, Vincent Price, was born in St. Louis, Missouri. He was a graduate of Yale University who later became a cult figure, having been one of the predominant actors of American horror cinema.

Italian violinist and composer, Nicolo Paganini, died at the age of 68. He is considered as one of the greatest violinists who ever lived.