1988 – The Nagorno-Karabakh War is triggered by der Autonomous Oblast's secession from Azerbaijan
Today, Nagorno-Karabakh is a de facto independent state, but the territory is still internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan.
1962 – The first U.S. citizen to orbit the Earth lands safely in the Atlantic Ocean
John Glenn's 5-hour spaceflight came almost a year after Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin orbited the Earth on April 12, 1961.
1944 – U.S. bombers attack German aircraft manufacturing centers, in a bombing campaign that became known as the “Big Week”
The goal was to achieve air superiority to secure the invasion of Europe.
1913 – Works to build Australia's capital city commence
Canberra is an entirely planned city and was chosen as the Australian capital as a compromise between rivals Sydney and Melbourne.
1877 – Tchaikovsky's ballet “Swan Lake” is premiered
It is one of the world's best-known ballets.
1988 – Rihanna
Barbadian/American singer-songwriter, actress
1967 – Kurt Cobain
American singer-songwriter, guitarist
1951 – Gordon Brown
Scottish politician, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
1927 – Sidney Poitier
American actor, director
1819 – Alfred Escher
Swiss businessman, politician
2005 – Hunter S. Thompson
American journalist, author
1996 – Toru Takemitsu
Japanese composer
1993 – Ferruccio Lamborghini
Italian businessman, created Lamborghini
1961 – Percy Grainger
Australian composer
1895 – Frederick Douglass
American author, activist
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