More than 69,000 people lost their lives to a magnitude 8.0 earthquake in Sichuan, China.
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Juan María Fernández y Krohn tried to assassinate Pope John Paul II with a bayonet.
Jimi Hendrix released 'Are You Experienced,' which is considered one of the most influential debut albums ever.
One hundred and forty thousand miners went on strike in Pennsylvania.
National Hospital Day was first observed.
After encountering many difficulties, Nathan Stubblefield was finally granted a US patent for his new version of a wireless telephone.
