1956 – Rainier III marries Grace Kelly
The wedding celebrations for the Prince of Monaco and the glamorous U.S. actress were broadcast around the world and enthused the population of war-torn Europe.
1951 – The European Coal and Steel Community, a precursor of the European Union, is established
The Treaty of Paris was signed by France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
1949 – Ireland becomes an independent republic
Six counties in the northern part of the island remained in the Commonwealth, leading to a decades-long ethno-nationalist conflict that culminated in The Troubles.
1906 – A massive earthquake destroys San Francisco
About 3000 people died in the disaster. Over 80 percent of the city was destroyed by the quake and resulting fires.
1506 – Construction of the current St. Peter's Basilica begins
St. Peter's in Vatican City is one of the world's most important Catholic sites.
1973 – Haile Gebrselassie
Ethiopian runner
1971 – David Tennant
Scottish actor
1964 – Niall Ferguson
Scottish historian
1902 – Menachem Mendel Schneerson
Russian/French rabbi
1882 – Leopold Stokowski
Polish/English conductor
2012 – Dick Clark
American television host, producer, founded Productions
2002 – Thor Heyerdahl
Norwegian explorer
1964 – Ben Hecht
American screenwriter, director, producer
1955 – Albert Einstein
German/American physicist, Nobel Prize laureate
1943 – Isoroku Yamamoto
Japanese Admiral
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