The Last Emperor receives nine Academy Awards
Bernardo Bertolucci’s biopic about Puyi, the last Emperor of China, was the first film to be awarded all the Oscars it was nominated for.
The Space Shuttle blasts off into space for the first time
Two astronauts took off for Space Shuttle Columbia’s first orbital test flight.
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
The Soviet Cosmonaut orbited the Earth aboard the Vostok-3KA spacecraft (Vostok 1 mission). The first human spaceflight took 108 minutes from launch to landing.
The American Civil War begins
The bombardment of Fort Sumter near Charleston, South Carolina marked the beginning of hostilities. The conflict was sparked by deepening economic, social, and political differences between the southern and northern states, which were most palpably embodied by the dispute about the legitimacy of slavery. The southern (pro-slavery) states, surrendered in 1865, ending the war.
- 1947 David Letterman
American comedian, talk show host - 1947 Tom Clancy
American author - 1940 Herbie Hancock
American pianist, composer, bandleader - 1871 Ioannis Metaxas
Greek general, politician, 130th Prime Minister of Greece - 1823 Alexander Ostrovsky
Russian playwright
- 1989 Sugar Ray Robinson
American boxer - 1981 Joe Louis
American boxer - 1975 Josephine Baker
American/French actress, singer, dancer - 1945 Franklin D. Roosevelt
American politician, 32nd President of the United States - 1555 Joanna of Castile
