An arson attack on the passenger ferry, Scandinavian Star, kills 159
Insurance fraud is today considered the most likely motive for the attack. According to a 2013 report, 9 crew members started the fire and sabotaged the fire crew’s attempts to extinguish the blaze.
The internet is born
The Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) awarded a contract to build a precursor of today’s world wide web to BBN Technologies. The date is widely considered as the internet’s symbolic birthday.
The World Health Organization is established
The WHO is a United Nations agency concerned with fighting disease and epidemics worldwide, building up national health services, and improving health education in its 194 member states.
The first friction match is sold
English chemist John Walker produced and sold the first operable matches. They were soon banned in France and Germany because burning fragments would sometimes fall to the floor and start fires.
- 1964 Russell Crowe
New Zealand/Australian actor, singer, producer - 1954 Jackie Chan
Chinese actor, martial artist, director, producer, screenwriter - 1939 Francis Ford Coppola
American director, producer, screenwriter - 1920 Ravi Shankar
Indian/American sitar player, composer - 1915 Billie Holiday
American singer-songwriter, actress
- 1947 Henry Ford
American businessman, founded the Ford Motor Company - 1891 P. T. Barnum
American businessman, founded Ringling Bros., Barnum & Bailey Circus - 1804 Toussaint Louverture
Haitian general - 1782 Taksin
Thai king - 1614 El Greco
Greek painter, sculptor
