- David Rittenhouse, American astronomer, inventor, and mathematician, born in Paper Mill Run, Pennsylvania (d. 1796)
- Lulu McConnell, American vaudeville, radio, and television comedienne (It Pays To Be Ignorant), born in Kansas City, Missouri (d. 1962)
- Herbert Eimert, German composer and musicologist (Glockenspiel), born in Bad Kreuznach, Kingdom of Prussia (d. 1972)
- Hubertus Ernst, Dutch Roman Catholic bishop of Breda, born in Breda, Netherlands (d. 2017)
- John Gavin [Juan Vincent Apablasa Jr], American actor (Imitation of Life, Psycho), and US Ambassador to Mexico (1981–86), born in Los Angeles, California (d. 2018)
- Bob Garretson, American auto racer (Sebring 12 hours 1978; 24 Hours of Daytona and World Endurance C'ship for Drivers 1981), born in Sunnyville, California (d. 2025)
- Leon Huff, American pianist, songwriter, and "Philadelphia Soul" producer, with Kenny Gamble (Billy Paul - "Me and Mrs Jones"; The O'Jays; Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes), born in Camden, New Jersey
- Robert L. Johnson, American businessman and co-founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET), born in Hickory, Mississippi
- Carl Friedrich Gauss, German mathematician, proves the quadratic reciprocity law (the ability to determine the solvability of any quadratic equation in modular arithmetic)
- Detroit Tigers claim young pitcher Denny McLain on waivers from the Chicago White Sox; McLain goes on the win Cy Young Award 1968, 69 and American League MVP 1968
- Unmanned Gemini 1 launched
- American Football League votes in 36-year-old Al Davis as commissioner after Joe Foss resigns; appointment lasts 3 months when AFL merges with NFL
- 71st US Masters Tournament: Zach Johnson wins his first major title, 2 strokes ahead of Retief Goosen, Rory Sabbatini and Tiger Woods
- Arthur Wellard, English cricket all-rounder (2 Tests, 7 wickets, BB 4/81; Somerset CCC), born in Southfleet, England (d. 1980)
- Jan Novák, Czech classical composer and contemporary Latin poet, born in Nová Říše, Moravia, First Czechoslovak Republic (d. 1984)
- Hywel Bennett, Welsh, actor (Family Way, Shelley), born in Garnant, Wales (d. 2017)
- Mark Blundell, British auto racer (24 Hours of Le Mans 1992), born in London, England
- Kirsten Storms, American actress (General Hospital; Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century), born in Orlando, Florida