1595– Nomenclator of Leiden University Library appears, the first printed catalog of an institutional library
1738– John Wesley is converted, launching the Methodist movement; celebrated annually by Methodists as Aldersgate Day
1844– Samuel Morse taps out “What hath God wrought” in the world’s first telegraph message
1941– German battleship Bismarck sinks the British battle cruiser HMS Hood; 1,416 die, 3 survive
1988– Section 28 passed as law by Parliament in the United Kingdom prohibiting the promotion of homosexuality. Repealed 2001/2004
1994 – Four men convicted in the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center in New York City were each sentenced to 240 years in prison; the terrorist attack had killed 6 people and injured some 1,000.
2000 – Israel ended its 18-year occupation of southern Lebanon, withdrawing the last of its troops from its self-declared security zone.
Births & Deaths: 1819 – Queen Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom and Ireland (1837-1901), born in London
1941 – American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, who was hailed as the Shakespeare of his generation, was born in Duluth, Minnesota.
Film: 1895 – Henry Irving becomes the first actor to receive a knighthood
Music: 1956– 1st Eurovision Song Contest: Lys Assia for Switzerland wins singing “Refrain” in Lugano
Sport: 1935– 1st major league night baseball game, in Cincinnati (Reds 2, Phil 1)