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One World Trade Center becomes the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.
The Damascus bombings are carried out using a pair of car bombs detonated by suicide bombers outside of a military intelligence complex in Damascus, Syria, killing 55 people and injuring 400 others.
A hand grenade thrown by Vladimir Arutyunian lands about 65 feet (20 meters) from U.S. President George W. Bush while he is giving a speech to a crowd in Tbilisi, Georgia, but it malfunctions and does not detonate.
FBI agent Robert Hanssen is sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for selling United States secrets to Russia for $1.4 million in cash and diamonds.
The 7.3 Mw Qayen earthquake strikes Iran's Khorasan Province, killing 1,567, injuring over 2,300, leaving 50,000 homeless, and damaging or destroying over 15,000 homes.
Nelson Mandela is inaugurated as South Africa's first black president.
In Thailand, a fire at the Kader Toy Factory kills 156 workers.
François Mitterrand wins the presidential election and becomes the first Socialist President of France in the French Fifth Republic.
Sony introduces the Betamax videocassette recorder in Japan.
In the Vietnam War, the US had two fighter ace crews. The USAF's Ritchie and DeBellevue scored their first kill while the USN's Cunningham and Driscoll scored their third, fourth and fifth kills.
Bobby Orr scores "The Goal"[1][better source needed] to win the 1970 Stanley Cup Finals, for the Boston Bruins' fourth NHL championship in their history.
Vietnam War: The Battle of Dong Ap Bia begins with an assault on Hill 937. It will ultimately become known as Hamburger Hill.
The Northrop M2-F2 crashes on landing, becoming the inspiration for the novel Cyborg and TV series The Six Million Dollar Man.
The nuclear submarine USS Triton completes Operation Sandblast, the first underwater circumnavigation of the earth.
Bill Haley & His Comets release "Rock Around the Clock", the first rock and roll record to reach number one on the Billboard charts.
The Republic of China implements "temporary provisions" granting President Chiang Kai-shek extended powers to deal with the Communist uprising; they will remain in effect until 1991.
First successful launch of an American V-2 rocket at White Sands Proving Ground.
World War II: The Thai Phayap Army invades the Shan States during the Burma Campaign.
World War II: Rudolf Hess parachutes into Scotland to try to negotiate a peace deal between the United Kingdom and Nazi Germany.
World War II: The House of Commons in London is damaged by the Luftwaffe in an air raid.
World War II: Winston Churchill is appointed Prime Minister of the United Kingdom following the resignation of Neville Chamberlain.
World War II: Germany invades Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
World War II: German raids on British shipping convoys and military airfields begin.
World War II: German fighters accidentally bomb the German city of Freiburg.
Censorship: In Germany, the Nazis stage massive public book burnings.
J. Edgar Hoover is appointed first Director of the United States' Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and remains so until his death in 1972.
Sailing in the lifeboat James Caird, Ernest Shackleton arrives at South Georgia after a journey of 800 nautical miles from Elephant Island.
Mother's Day is observed for the first time in the United States, in Grafton, West Virginia.
The Horch & Cir. Motorwagenwerke AG is founded. It would eventually become the Audi company.
Romania declares itself independent from the Ottoman Empire following the Senate adoption of Mihail Kogălniceanu's Declaration of Independence.
The Centennial Exposition is opened in Philadelphia by U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant and Brazilian Emperor Dom Pedro II.
Victoria Woodhull becomes the first woman nominated for President of the United States.
The First Transcontinental Railroad, linking the eastern and western United States, is completed at Promontory Summit, Utah with the golden spike.
Karl of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen is crowned the Ruling Prince of the United Principalities of Romania.
American Civil War: In Kentucky, Union soldiers ambush and mortally wound Confederate raider William Quantrill, who lingers until his death on June 6.
American Civil War: Jefferson Davis is captured by U.S. troops near Irwinville, Georgia.
American Civil War: Colonel Emory Upton leads a 10-regiment "Attack-in-depth" assault against the Confederate works at The Battle of Spotsylvania, which, though ultimately unsuccessful, would provide the idea for the massive assault against the Bloody Angle on May 12. Upton is slightly wounded but is immediately promoted to brigadier general.
Indian Rebellion of 1857: In India, the first war of Independence begins. Sepoys mutiny against their commanding officers at Meerut.
Astor Place Riot: A riot breaks out at the Astor Opera House in Manhattan, New York City over a dispute between actors Edwin Forrest and William Charles Macready, killing at least 25 and injuring over 120.
Panic of 1837: New York City banks fail, and unemployment reaches record levels.
The desecration of the grave of the viceroy of southern Vietnam Lê Văn Duyệt by Emperor Minh Mạng provokes his adopted son to start a revolt.
First Barbary War: The Barbary pirates of Tripoli declare war on the United States of America.
War of the First Coalition: Napoleon I of France wins a victory against Austrian forces at Lodi bridge over the Adda River in Italy. The Austrians lose some 2,000 men.
American Revolutionary War: Representatives from the Thirteen Colonies begin the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia.
American Revolutionary War: A small Colonial militia led by Ethan Allen and Colonel Benedict Arnold captures Fort Ticonderoga.
Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette become King and Queen of France.
The Parliament of Great Britain passes the Tea Act, designed to save the British East India Company by granting it a monopoly on the North American tea trade.
John Wilkes is imprisoned for writing an article for The North Briton severely criticizing King George III. This action provokes rioting in London.
King Narai nominates his daughter Sudawadi to succeed him with Constantine Phaulkon, Mom Pi and Phetracha acting as regents. The ensuing revolution leads to the Ayutthaya Kingdom severing all ties with Europe.
England, with troops under the command of Admiral William Penn and General Robert Venables, annexes Jamaica from Spain.
Christopher Columbus visits the Cayman Islands and names them Las Tortugas after the numerous turtles there.
Amerigo Vespucci allegedly leaves Cádiz for his first voyage to the New World.
Scottish nobles recognize the authority of Edward I of England pending the selection of a king.
Siege of Jerusalem: Titus, son of emperor Vespasian, opens a full-scale assault on Jerusalem and attacks the city's Third Wall to the northwest.
A sunspot is observed by Han dynasty astronomers during the reign of Emperor Cheng of Han, one of the earliest dated sunspot observations in China.
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