Maria Theresa – the only female to rule the Habsburg Empire – became queen following her father’s death.
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The Return of the King, the third installment in The Lord of the Rings book series by J. R. R. Tolkein, was published.
Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving Day a national holiday.
The Governor of Kenya declared a state of emergency and began arresting hundreds of suspected leaders of the Mau Mau Uprising.
A month after launching in Japan, Metal Gear Solid was finally playable by North American PlayStation players.
American pioneer aviator Noel Wien founded Alaska's first airline, Wien Alaska Airlines Inc.