"Among the scenes which are deeply impressed on my mind, none exceed in sublimity the primeval forests undefaced by the hand of man; whether those of Brazil, where the powers of Life are predominant, or those of Tierra del Fuego, where Death and decay prevail." - Charles Darwin, from The Voyage of the Beagle
- Frederick II, King of Denmark and Norway (1559-88), born in Haderslevhus Castle, Haderslev, Denmark (d. 1588)
- William Strunk Jr., American grammarian and author (The Elements of Style), born in Cincinnati, Ohio (d. 1946)
- Sergey Sokolov, Russian-Soviet marshal and Minister of Defence of the Soviet Union (1984-87), born in Yevpatoria, Russian Empire (d. 2012)
- Karen Black, American actress (5 Easy Pieces, Pyx), born in Park Ridge, Illinois (d. 2013)
- Jeff Wayne, American-British musician and composer (Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds), born in Forest Hills, Queens, New York City
- Denis Johnson, American short story writer and novelist (Jesus' Son, Tree of Smoke), born in Munich, Germany (d. 2017)
- Victor Willis, American disco singer-songwriter and "cop/naval officer" in the Village People ("In the Navy", "Y.M.C.A"), born in Dallas, Texas
- Edward Tsang Lu, American physicist and NASA astronaut (STS 84), born in Springfield, Massachusetts
- United Provinces of Central America declares itself independent of Mexico and Spain
- First US postage stamps go on sale, 5 cent Franklin and 10 cent Washington, NYC
- US Internal Revenue Law imposes first federal taxes on inheritance, tobacco, and incomes over $600 (progressive rate)
- Robert Bolt's "A Man For All Seasons" premieres in London
- Former US President Richard Nixon makes his first public speech since resigning in 1974
- Leon Jouhaux, French socialist and co-founder UN's ILO (Nobel 1951), born in Paris (d. 1954)
- Pavel Antokolsky, Russian poet and theatre director (Syn), born in St. Petersburg, Russian Empire (d. 1978)
- Joseph Ransohoff, American neurosurgeon and pioneer in the modern neurosurgery, born in Cincinnati, Ohio (d. 2001)
- Mike Haynes, American College-Pro Football HOF cornerback (Super Bowl XVIII LA Raiders; First-team All-Pro 1984, 85; 9 x Pro Bowl; NE Patriots), born in Denison, Texas
- Li Keqiang, Chinese Premier of the State Council and China's head of government, born in Dingyuan County, Anhui Province (d. 2023)
