President of Mauritania Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya is overthrown in a military coup while attending the funeral of King Fahd in Saudi Arabia.
Tandy Corporation announces the TRS-80, one of the world's first mass-produced personal computers.
The United States Senate ratifies the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.
The world's first nuclear submarine, the USS Nautilus, becomes the first vessel to complete a submerged transit of the geographical North Pole.
Santa Claus Land, the world's first themed amusement park, opens in Santa Claus, Indiana, United States.
World War II: Italian forces begin the invasion of British Somaliland.
Jesse Owens wins the 100 metre dash, defeating Ralph Metcalfe, at the Berlin Olympics.
World War I: Germany declares war against France, while Romania declares its neutrality.
Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis fines Standard Oil of Indiana a record $29.4 million for illegal rebating to freight carriers; the conviction and fine are later reversed on appeal.
Harvard University wins the first Boat Race between Yale University and Harvard. The race is also known as the first ever American intercollegiate athletic event.
The Treaty of Lewistown is signed by the Shawnee and Seneca peoples, exchanging land in Ohio for land west of the Mississippi River.
First ascent of Jungfrau, third highest summit in the Bernese Alps by brothers Johann Rudolf and Hieronymus Meyer.
Treaty of Greenville is signed, ending the Northwest Indian War in the Ohio Country.
Robert LaSalle builds the Le Griffon, the first known ship built on the Great Lakes.
Thirty Years' War: The Second Battle of Nördlingen sees French forces defeating those of the Holy Roman Empire.
The first known letter from North America is sent by John Rut while at St. John's, Newfoundland.
Roman Empire general Tiberius defeats the Dalmatae on the river Bosna.