Democratic candidate Bill Clinton defeated Republican George H.W. Bush as well as independent candidate Ross Perot.

Dominica gained its independence from the United Kingdom. Dominica is an island nation in the Caribbean Sea.

American volleyball player, Karch Kiraly, was born in Michigan. He is the only athlete to have won the golden olympic medal for both the sports of indoors and outdoors volleyball.

French painter, Henri Matisse, died at the age of 85. Along with Pablo Picasso he is one of the most well known painters of the 20th century.

The first Godzilla film was released in Japan.

George II of Greece regained his throne after his son Alexander who had succeeded him died from an infection he contracted when he was bitten by a pet monkey.

American actor, Charles Bronson, was born in Pennsylvania. He was one of 15 children born to a Lithuanian immigrant. In 1943, he joined the United States Army Air Forces and served in the European front as the gunner onboard B-29 bombers.

The USA introduced income taxation for the first time.

Chevrolet officially entered the automobile market.

Giuseppe Verdi's 'I due Foscari' was performed for the first time at Teatro Argentina, Rome.

The Times of India, the newspaper with the largest circulation in the world was founded as The Bombay Times and Journal of Commerce.