1890 – Mary Clarissa Agatha Miller, later known as Agatha Christie, is born in Torquay, Devon, England. She writes some 80 novels, 30 short story collections, 15 plays, and six romance novels. By the time of her death in 1976 more than 400 million copies of her books had been sold in more than 100 languages.
1940 – The tide turns in the Battle of Britain when the Royal Air Force downs 56 invading German aircraft in two dogfights lasting less than an hour.
1962 – Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons earn their first #1 hit with “Sherry.” It took most of a decade to achieve their breakthrough.
1963 – Four black schoolgirls are killed and 20 other people were injured in a Birmingham church bombing. The 16th Street Baptist Church had served as a meeting place for civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King, Jr. Robert Chambliss, a Klan member, was eventually convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Two others were convicted years later.
1978 – Muhammad Ali wins world heavyweight championship for the third time in his career, defeating Leon Spinks at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. Ali becomes the first fighter to ever win three titles.
