The 28th Summer Olympic Games opened in Athens, Greece.

American baseball player, Mickey Mantle, died at the age of 63. He is widely considered as one of the greatest baseball players of all time who still hold several World Series records. He died from liver cancer and the effects of years of alcohol abuse.

The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) was released in the United States. It was by far the most popular entertainment console of its time.

The Central African Republic declared its independence from France.

Cuban politician, Fidel Castro, was born in Biran. He was the leader of the 1959 revolution which overthrew Fulgencio Batista and the de facto leader of the country since that time.

Stainless steel was invented by British engineer, Harry Brearley.

Cypriot archbishop, Makarios III, was born in Paphos. In 1960 he was elected as the first president of Cyprus.

Italian biologist, Salvador Luria, was born in Turin. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1969 and is considered as one of the fathers of molecular biology.

British nurse, Florence Nightingale, was born in Florence, Italy. She was named after the city of her birth, and became known as the pioneer of modern nursing when in 1854 she and a staff of 38 nurses were sent to offer their services to the battlefront of the Crimean War.

British film director, Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, was born in Leytonstone, London. He was one of the most influential film directors of his generation, who pioneered many techniques in the suspense and thriller genres.