Thomas Edison patented the first movie projector. (1897) Edison received the patent for his Kinetograph movie camera. The Kinetograph was the first camera to use celluloid film, which was developed by George Eastman, the founder of Kodak. His invention inspired other inventors to design projectors that could show movies to large audiences, leading to the types of projectors we use today.
Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed were killed in a car crash. (1997) The couple’s driver, Henri Paul, lost control of the car while trying to evade the paparazzi. The only survivor of the crash was the body guard, Trevor Rees Jones, who was the only occupant wearing a seatbelt. Ten paparazzi photographers were arrested in connection with the accident, but it was later determined that the accident was caused because Paul — the driver — was intoxicated.
The world’s first solar-powered car was demonstrated. (1955) William Cobb, who worked at General Motors Corp., showed off his 15-inch solar-powered car, called “Sunmobile,” at an auto show in Chicago.
Residents in Los Angeles, California, captured the “Night Stalker” serial killer. (1985) City residents recognized Richard Ramirez on the street and mobbed him, nearly killing him. Ramirez murdered at least 12 people before he was caught; he was sentenced to death for the crimes.
US President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Neutrality Act. (1935) The act was part of a series of neutrality acts passed by the US Congress during the 1930s in an attempt to keep the US from engaging in warfare on behalf of foreign countries. The laws were in large part a reaction to the extraordinary expense of the US involvement in World War I.
The Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) declared a ceasefire. (1994) The ceasefire brought a temporary end to a 25-year battle between the IRA and Britain. There wasn’t a complete end to the IRA armed military campaign against the British until 2005.
Serial killer Jack the Ripper killed his first victim. (1888) Mary Ann Nichols was found murdered in London. In all, Jack the Ripper killed five women — all prostitutes — before his killing spree ended. He was never caught.
Nine-month-old Henry VI became the King of England. (1422) Until King Henry was 15, the government was run by regents.
A panic during a religious march across a bridge in Baghdad killed nearly 1,200 people. (2005) The panic on the Al-Aaimmah bridge started after rumors spread that a suicide bomber was going to blow it up. The ensuing stampede crushed some marchers to death, while others were forced over the railing and died falling into the river. The bridge was not blown up.
Hurricane Carol hit New England in the United States, causing 70 deaths. (1954) The Category 3 hurricane was one of the worst to hit that area of the US, causing $460 million US Dollars (USD) — $3.7 billion in 2010 USD — in damage.