An earthquake, measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale, struck central Taiwan, causing the death of approximately 2,400 people.

The Hindu milk miracle occurred when statues of the Hindu god Ganesh were reported to be drinking milk when placed near their mouths. This 'miracle' was reported in Hindu temples all over the world.

Armenia was granted independence from the Soviet Union.

Belize was granted full independence from the United Kingdom. The central American country of Belize borders with Mexico and Guatemala and was known as British Honduras up until 1973. Though an independent parliamentary democracy, it is also a constitutional monarchy which recognizes Queen Elizabeth II as Sovereign.

Malta gained its independent from the United Kingdom. It had been part of the British Empire since 1814.

American film director, Ethan Coen, was born in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. Along with his brother, Joel, they are commonly known as 'The Coen Brothers', and are widely considered as some of America's most talented directors.

American actor, Bill Murray, was born in Chicago, Illinois. Besides an actor he is also a comedian, director, producer and poet. He rose to glory when he starred in, and wrote for, the hit comedy series, Saturday Night Live, between the years 1977 and 1980.

American author, Stephen King, was born in Portland, Maine. He is best known for his enormously successful horror novels and is one of the most widely read authors of the 20th century. In 1999 he was struck by a driver while he was crossing the street and was hospitalized for several weeks for severe injuries, the driver of the car that struck him, a disabled construction worker, died in his sleep on September 21, 2000, the day of King's birthday.

American film and television producer, Jerry Bruckheimer, was born in Detroit, Michigan. He is one of the most successful film producers in Hollywood having produced such hits as the Beverly Hills Cop films, Top Gun, Pirates of the Caribbean and many others. He is also the producer of the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation hugely successful television series.

The B-29 Super fortress bomber airplane made its debut appearance. It was the primary bomber aircraft of the U.S. during the bombing campaign against Japan during the final months of World War II. The most well known B-29 was the Enola Gay, which was the plane that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima on 1945, and the Bockscar, which dropped another on Nagasaki three days after Hiroshima.

A Hurricane struck Long Island, New York causing the death of over 500 people.

J. R. R. Tolkien's book, The Hobbit, was first published. It has since become one of the most widely read books in history.

British writer, Herbert George Wells, was born in Kent. He is best known for having written the classic science fiction novels, The Time Machine, The War of the Worlds, The Invisible Man, and The Island of Doctor Moreau.

Joseph Smith, Jr., an American religious leader, claimed that the angel Moroni gave him a record of gold plates, which he translated into 'The Book of Mormon'. He founded the 'Latter Day Saint movement', which gave rise to Mormonism.