The American Motors Corporation, best known for creating the Jeep, was bought out by Chrysler.
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Dutch astronomer Johannes Fabricius discovered sunspots.
Naples, Italy, banned kissing in public.
The Soviet spacecraft Sputnik 9 was launched into orbit.
Astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus recorded his first observation after witnessing a moon eclipse with a distant star.
The United States Air Force firebombed Tokyo, Japan, killing over 100,000 civilians.