The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 508 points on this day in 1987. It was called Black Monday, the worst one-day percentage decline, 22.6%, in history.
The supersonic Concorde made its first landing at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York City on this day in 1977.
On this day in 1945, Japan surrendered to the U.S. aboard the USS Missouri, ending World War II. The war ended six years and one day after it began.
Douglas MacArthur signs the Japanese surrender documents.
On this day in 1864, during the U.S. Civil War, Union forces led by Gen. William T. Sherman (below) occupied Atlanta following the retreat of the Confederates.
On this day in 1944, future President George Herbert Walker Bush is serving as a torpedo bomber pilot in the Pacific theater of World War II when his squadron is attacked by Japanese anti-aircraft guns forcing Bush to bail out of the plane over the ocean. According to the Navy’s records, Bush’s squadron was conducting a bombing mission on a Japanese installation on the island of Chi Chi Jima in the Pacific when they encountered heavy anti-aircraft fire. The engine on Bush’s plane was set ablaze, yet Bush managed to release his bombs and head back toward the aircraft carrier San Jacinto before bailing out over the water.
George H.W. Bush turned 94 in June.
The Great Fire of London broke out on this day in 1666. It burned for three days destroying 10,000 buildings including St. Paul’s Cathedral with only six fatalities.
It was announced on this day in 1985, the Titanic had been found on by a U.S. and French expedition 560 miles off Newfoundland. The luxury liner had been missing for 73 years.
A photograph of the Titanic believed to have been taken the day before she left on her ill-fated voyage in 1912.
The last known photo of Titanic heading out for open sea off the coast of Ireland.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law on this day in 1935. The act created unemployment insurance and pension plans for the elderly.
On this day in 1969, British troops arrived in Northern Ireland to intervene in sectarian violence between Protestants and Roman Catholics.
Lech Walesa
Stephen Glenn Martin is 73 years old today. Born in Waco, Texas.
While he has played banjo since an early age, and included music in his comedy routines from the beginning of his professional career, he has increasingly dedicated his career to music since the 2000s, acting less and spending much of his professional life playing banjo, recording, and touring with various bluegrass acts, including Earl Scruggs.
The Lusitania, a civilian ship, was sunk by a German submarine on during WW l on this day in 1915. A total of 1,201 people were killed.
Germany signed unconditional surrender ending World War II on this day in 1945. It would take effect the next day.
On this day in 1954, French Colonial Forces surrendered to the Viet Minh at Dien Bien Phu after 55 days of fighting.
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (May 7, 1840 – November 6, 1893)
Tchaikovsky is famous for composing "The Nutcracker" ballet, as well as numerous symphonies, concertos, operas, ballets, and chamber-music pieces, he’s remembered as one of classical music’s most popular composers. He began taking piano lessons when he was five and was able to read music at the same level as his first piano teacher in only three years.
Bust sculpture monument to composer Peter Tchaikovsky near the music school in Yekaterinburg, Russia.
Glenn Miller and His Orchestra recorded "Chattanooga Choo Choo” on this day in 1941.