Discover What Happened Today in History
Fleeing the rise of Nazi Germany, physicist Albert Einstein arrived in the United States as a refugee. He would soon accept a position at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, where he spent the remainder of his life.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced that Mother Teresa, the Albanian-Indian Roman Catholic nun and missionary, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her humanitarian work with the poor in Calcutta. She was recognized for her 'compassionate care for the destitute and dying.'
During the Algerian War, the Paris police, under orders from prefect Maurice Papon, violently suppressed a peaceful protest by Algerians demonstrating for independence. Dozens were killed, and many bodies were thrown into the Seine River, an event long suppressed by French authorities.
Notorious Chicago gangster Al Capone was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison for tax evasion. This conviction marked a significant victory for law enforcement, which had been unable to prosecute him for his more violent crimes.
Marcel Dionne of the Los Angeles Kings became the first player in National Hockey League history to score 1,000 career points within his first 10 seasons. He achieved the milestone with an assist in a game against the Montreal Canadiens.