Discover What Happened Today in History
The Acts of Union, passed by the English and Scottish Parliaments, came into effect, uniting the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland into a single sovereign state named Great Britain. This political merger created a unified Parliament at Westminster.
President Herbert Hoover officially opened the Empire State Building in New York City by pressing a button in Washington, D.C., turning on the building's lights. It stood as the world's tallest building for nearly 40 years.
An American U-2 spy plane piloted by Francis Gary Powers was shot down over Soviet airspace, causing a major diplomatic crisis. The incident shattered the brief thaw in Cold War tensions and led to the collapse of a planned Paris summit.
A general strike began across the United States, with tens of thousands of workers demonstrating for an eight-hour workday. This event, centered in Chicago, led to the Haymarket Riot days later and became the origin of International Workers' Day.
Three-time Formula One world champion Ayrton Senna died after crashing his Williams car at the Tamburello corner during the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola. His death is considered one of the most tragic events in motorsport history.