1979 – The compact disc is presented to the public
The CD was developed by Philips and Sony. The companies later collaborated to produce a standard format and CD players.
1978 – The first episode of the radio comedy The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is broadcast
Douglas Adams' radio play was a major success with BBC Radio 4 listeners. The book version consisting of five novels - A Trilogy in Five Parts - became a worldwide success.
1971 – In the Fight of the Century, Joe Frazier triumphs over Muhammad Ali
Ali had been stripped of his World Heavyweight Champion title in 1967 for refusing to serve in the armed forces. As he was still undefeated, Frazier had to beat him to be recognized as the world champion.
1910 – Raymonde de Laroche becomes the first woman with a pilot's license
The French aviatrix was also the first woman to fly solo. She died at the age of 36 when her experimental plane crashed at Le Crotoy airfield in northern France.
1817 – The New York Stock Exchange is founded
The NYSE at 11 Wall Street in New York City is the world's largest stock exchange.
1990 – Petra Kvitová
Czech tennis player
1952 – George Allen
American politician, 67th Governor of Virginia
1907 – Konstantinos Karamanlis
Greek politician, 3rd President of Greece
1879 – Otto Hahn
German chemist, Nobel Prize laureate
1841 – Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
American jurist
1999 – Joe DiMaggio
American baseball player
1942 – José Raúl Capablanca
Cuban chess player
1930 – William Howard Taft
American politician, 27th President of the United States
1917 – Ferdinand von Zeppelin
German general, businessman
1869 – Hector Berlioz
French composer
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