2005 – Mahmoud Ahmadinejad takes office in Iran
An engineer and teacher by professional, Ahmadinejad became the 6th president of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
2005 – Coup in Mauritania
A military coup replaced long-time president Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya. Colonel Ely Ould Mohamed Vall took over the transitional government until elections were held in 2005.
1960 – Niger gains its independence from France
The West African country became a French colony in the early 20th century. Hamani Diori became the first president of the country.
1946 – World's first theme park opens its doors in in Santa Claus, Indiana, USA
Santa Claus Land is now known as Holiday World & Splashin' Safari.
1900 – Firestone Tire and Rubber Company is founded
The American tire company was founded by Harvey Samuel Firestone in Akron, Ohio. In 1988, the company was taken over by Japan's Bridgestone Corporation.
1984 – Ryan Lochte
American swimmer
1941 – Martha Stewart
American businesswoman, publisher, author, founded Living Omnimedia
1940 – Martin Sheen
American actor
1926 – Tony Bennett
American singer
1867 – Stanley Baldwin
English politician
2008 – Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
Russian soldie, author, Nobel Prize laureate
2004 – Henri Cartier-Bresson
French photographer
1995 – Ida Lupino
English actress, director
1929 – Thorstein Veblen
American economist, sociologist
1924 – Joseph Conrad
Polish/English author
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