"It is the grand object of all theory to make these irreducible elements as simple and as few in number as possible, without having to renounce the adequate representation of any empirical content whatever." - Albert Einstein, from his 1933 Lecture "On the Method of Theoretical Physics"
- Leopold I, "The Glorious", Duke of Austria and Styria, member of the House of Habsburg, born in Vienna, Austria (d. 1326)
- Louis Lully, French musician and son of Jean-Baptiste Lully, born in Paris, France (d. 1734)
- Erich Weinert, German communist writer, born in Magdeburg (d. 1953)
- David Raksin, American composer renown for his work in film and TV (Laura; Modern Times), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 2004)
- Raoul Wallenberg, Swedish architect, humanitarian, and diplomat during World War II (saved 10,000s of Jews), born in Lidingö Municipality, Sweden (d. 1952)
- Judith S. Kaye, American jurist and the first female chief judge of the New York Court of Appeals (1993-2008), born in Monticello, New York (d. 2016)
- Donald Gibb, American character actor (Revenge of the Nerds, Bloodsport), born in New York City (d. 2026)
- Charles D. Gemar, American former NASA astronaut (STS-38, 48, 62) and lieutenant colonel (United States Army), born in Yankton, South Dakota
- English troops under Edward III conquer Calais, becomes strategic town for the English during Hundred Years' War
- Johan Maurits is appointed governor of Dutch Brazil
- American athlete Jesse Owens wins his second gold medal at the Berlin Olympics, defeating German Luz Long in the long jump final with an Olympic record
- North Vietnam purportedly engages US Navy ships in the Gulf of Tonkin for a second time, resulting in US Congress passing the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, granting authority to assist any Southeast Asian nation facing "communist aggression"; a later investigation deems the second attack never happened as shipboard communications were misinterpreted
- Gunman kills 9 and injures 27 at a bar in Dayton, Ohio, in the second mass shooting in 24 hours in the US
- William Rowan Hamilton, Irish astronomer and mathematician, born in Dublin, Ireland (d. 1865)
- (Calvin) "Scotty" Stoneman, American bluegrass fiddler (The Stoneman Family; The Kentucky Colonels), born in Galax, Virginia (d. 1973)
- Laura Biagiotti, Italian fashion designer known as the "Queen of Cashmere", born in Rome, Italy (d. 2017)
- Charles D. Gemar, American former NASA astronaut (STS-38, 48, 62) and lieutenant colonel (United States Army), born in Yankton, South Dakota
- Joey Huffman, American rock keyboard and organ player (Soul Asylum), born in Pikeville, Kentucky
