1479 BC – Thutmose III ascends to the throne of Egypt, although power effectively shifts to Hatshepsut (according to the Low Chronology of the 18th Dynasty). 1184 BC – The Greeks enter Troy using the Trojan Horse (traditional date). 1800 – The Library of Congress was officially founded as U.S. President John Adams approved the $5,000 appropriated to acquire “such books as may be necessary for the use of congress.” 1877 – Russo-Turkish War, 1877-78: Russia declares war on the Ottoman Empire. 1898 – Spanish-American War: Spain declares war after rejecting US ultimatum to withdraw from Cuba. 1916 – Easter Rising of Irish republicans against British occupation begins in Dublin. 1967 – Soviet cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov became the first man to die during a space mission when his spacecraft became entangled in its parachute during an attempted landing. 1967 – Vietnam War: American General William Westmoreland says in a news conference that the enemy had “gained support in the United States that gives him hope that he can win politically that which he cannot win militarily.”. 1980 – U.S. forces launched a mission to rescue American hostages in Iran, but the attempt failed, and eight U.S. service members were killed. 2004 – American businesswoman Estée Lauder, who cofounded the hugely profitable fragrance and beauty company that bore her name, died in Manhattan. 2005 – Pope Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger), successor to John Paul II, formally assumed his position as the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church during a mass in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City.
Births & Deaths: 1942 – Barbra Streisand, an American actress, singer, producer and director, was born.
Sport: 1981 – Bill Shoemaker wins his 8,000th race, 2000 more than any other jockey.
Music: 2018 – Streaming music services overtake worldwide sales of CDs and vinyl for the first time according to IFPI.
TV & Film: 1962 – Massachusetts Institute of Technology sends TV signal by satellite for 1st time: California to Massachusetts.
