- Abd al-Rahman III, Umayyad Emir (912-29) and 1st Caliph of Córdoba (929-961) [birthdate disputed], born in Córdoba (d. 961)
- Bernhard Albinus, German-Dutch court-physician (Frederick of Prussia), born in Dessau (d. 1721)
- Orval Faubus, American politician, Governor of Arkansas (1955-67), tried to prevent black students attending a high school during Little Rock Crisis, born in Madison County, Arkansas (d. 1994)
- Ken Henry, American speed skater (Olympic gold 500m, 1952), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2009)
- Eddie LeBaron, American football quarterback (Pro Bowl 1955, 57, 58, 62; Washington Redskins, Dallas Cowboys), born in San Rafael, California (d. 2015)
- Danny Williams, British pop singer, known as 'Britain's Johnny Mathis' ("Moon River"; "White on White"), born in Port Elizabeth, Union of South Africa (d. 2005)
- Andy Brown, British rock drummer (The Fortunes, 1963-77 - "You've Got Your Troubles"; "Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again"), born in Birmingham, England
- Dustin Diamond, American actor (Saved By Bell - "Screech"), born in San Jose, California (d. 2021)
- African American inventor William Purvis receives a patent for the fountain pen
- Indian batsman Vinoo Mankad scores 231 v NZ, 413 opening stand with Roy
- Gasoline rationing begins in the Netherlands
- Lynn Jennings runs world record indoor 5km indoor at 15:22.64
- 27th People's Choice Awards: Mel Gibson and Julia Roberts win (Dramatic Motion Picture) and Drew Carey and Jennifer Aniston win (TV)
- Sandford Fleming, Scottish-Canadian engineer; introduced Universal Standard Time, born in Kirkcaldy, Scotland (d. 1915)
- Steve Sheetz, American businessman, philanthropist and chief executive of Sheetz convenience stores (1984-95), born in Altoona, Pennsylvania (d. 2026)
- Five for Fighting [Vladimir John Ondrasik], American soft rock-pop pianist, singer-songwriter, and record producer ("Superman (It's Not Easy)"; "100 Years"), born in Los Angeles, California
- John Gidding, American architect and TV host (Designed to Sell), born in Istanbul, Turkey
- Eden Hazard, Belgian soccer midfielder (126 caps; Lille, Chelsea 245 games, Real Madrid), born in La Louvière, Belgium