The United States Space Force becomes the first new branch of the United States Armed Forces since 1947.
Elizabeth II becomes the oldest monarch in the history of the United Kingdom, surpassing Queen Victoria, who lived for 81 years and 243 days.
War on drugs: The United Nations agrees upon and promulgates the United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, one of three major drug control treaties currently in force.
With the approval of the State Council, China's two largest newspapers, the People's Daily and the Guangming Daily, publish in full for the first time the Second Chinese Character Simplification Scheme.
The Zodiac Killer murders his first two officially confirmed victims, David Arthur Faraday and Betty Lou Jensen, on Lake Herman Road in Benicia, California, United States.
The initial production version of the Boeing 707 makes its first flight.
The EBR-1 in Arco, Idaho becomes the first nuclear power plant to generate electricity. The electricity powered four light bulbs.
Indonesian National Revolution: The Dutch military captures Yogyakarta, the temporary capital of the newly formed Republic of Indonesia.
World War II: Japanese air forces bomb Calcutta, India.
World War II: First battle of the American Volunteer Group, better known as the "Flying Tigers", in Kunming, China.
Captain America Comics #1, containing the first appearance of the superhero Captain America, is published.
Cheka, the first Soviet secret police force, is founded.
World War I: The last Australian troops are evacuated from Gallipoli.
South Carolina becomes the first state to attempt to secede from the United States with the South Carolina Declaration of Secession.
French presidential election: Having won the popular vote in a landslide, Louis Napoleon Bonaparte is inaugurated in the chamber of the National Assembly as the first (and only) president of the French Second Republic.