Today in History

Nelson Mandela wins the presidency in South Africa’s first multiracial elections.

The world’s worst nuclear disaster occurs at the Chernobyl power plant in the Soviet Union.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average breaks 1,200 for first time.

Students seize the administration building at Ohio State University.

The first organ is played at a baseball stadium in Chicago.

The ancient Basque town of Guernica in northern Spain is bombed by German planes.

New York Yankee Lou Gehrig hits a home run but is called out for passing a runner, the mistake ultimately costs him the home run record.

The first non-stop flight from England to India is completed.

Second Lieutenant William Rhodes-Moorhouse becomes the first airman to win the Victoria Cross after conducting a successful bombing raid.

Bernard Malamud, novelist and short story writer (The Natural).

Charles Richter, physicist and seismologist.

Rudolf Hess, Nazi leader.

Anita Loos, novelist and screenwriter (Gentleman Prefer Blondes).

Syngman Rhee, South Korean statesman.

Joseph E. Johnston surrenders the Army of Tennessee to General William T. Sherman.

Frederick Law Olmsted, landscape architect, designed New York’s central park.

Alfred Krupp, German arms merchant.

John James Audubon, artist and naturalist.

Esek Hopkins, first commodore of the United States Navy.

The British establish a colony at Cape Henry, Virginia.

William Shakespeare is baptized.

Copernicus makes his first observations of Saturn.

Pazzi conspirators attack Lorenzo and kill Giuliano de’ Medici.

Stephen II ends his reign as Catholic Pope.