More than 69,000 people lost their lives to a magnitude 8.0 earthquake in Sichuan, China.
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After encountering many difficulties, Nathan Stubblefield was finally granted a US patent for his new version of a wireless telephone.
The first-ever cricket County Championship started, finishing with Yorkshire beating Gloucestershire.
Jimi Hendrix released 'Are You Experienced,' which is considered one of the most influential debut albums ever.
The US Commerce Department decided that hurricane names would no longer be only female.
The first confirmed trip to the North Pole was carried out by the Norge, a semi-rigid Italian-built airship.
