1974 – In an informal article in a medical journal, Henry Heimlich introduced the concept of
abdominal thrusts, commonly known as the Heimlich maneuver, to treat victims of
choking.
1982 – A failed assassination attempt was made on Shlomo Argov, the Israeli ambassador to the United Kingdom, which event was later used as justification for the
First Lebanon War.
1784 – Élisabeth Thible became the first woman to fly in an untethered hot air balloon, covering a distance of 4 km (2.5 mi) and reaching an estimated altitude of 1,500 m (4,900 ft).
1897 – The Ancient Temples and Shrines Preservation Law was passed, instituting the protection of structures and artifacts in Japan designated National Treasures.
1832 – The Reform Act, which is widely credited with launching modern democracy in the United Kingdom, received
royal assent.
1892 – Homer Plessy, a mixed-race man from
New Orleans, was arrested for refusing to leave his seat in the "whites-only" car of a train; he lost the resulting court case, Plessy v. Ferguson.
2009 – Two American journalists, having been arrested for illegal entry into North Korea, were sentenced to twelve years hard labor before being pardoned two months later.
1646 –
Franco-Spanish War: French and Spanish fleets fought the inconclusive Battle of Orbetello, with sailing vessels of both sides having to be towed into action by
galleys due to light winds.
1374 – An outbreak of dancing mania, in which crowds of people danced themselves to exhaustion, began in
Aachen (in present-day Germany) before spreading to other parts of Europe.
1939 – The first of the Thai cultural mandates was issued, officially changing the country's name from Siam to Thailand.
1409 – The
Council of Pisa elected Peter of Candia as Pope Alexander V(pictured), becoming the third simultaneous claimant of the title of leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
1889 – Bangui, the capital and largest city of the present-day Central African Republic, was founded in
French Congo.
1613 – The original Globe Theatre in London burned to the ground after a cannon employed for
special effects misfired during a performance of Henry VIII and ignited the roof.