in Paris, the French mathematician Adrien-Marie Legendre is born. He made major contributions to statistics, number theories, abstract algebra and mathematical analysis.
In 1822 French linguist and historian Jean-Francois Champollion announced the first successful decipherment of Egyptian hieroglyphics. In a breakthrough he successfully deciphered two Egyptian names on the Rosetta Stone, which dates back to 196 B.C. The names were Ramses and Thutmos.
In 1851, Jean Bernard Leon Foucault with a 62-metre long pendulum, which he affixed to the dome of the Pantheon in Paris, demonstrated the Earth's rotation. For the experiment he used a 28 kilo iron ball hanging on a 67 m long wire. At the bottom half of the ball was a stylus that on a plate, sprinkled with sand and divided into degrees, recorded the traces of the pendulum. One complete cycle lasted 16.4 s. His test demonstrated the rotation of Earth on its axis.
In 1869 in Metlika the first voluntary fire-fighters organisation is organised.
In 1897 in Vega Street in Ljubljana under the guidance of the pioneer of Slovenian seismology Dr. Albin Belar the first seismic observatory in the Austro-Hungarian Empire is built. It was also the most advanced in Europe. It was in operation until 1919.
In 2002 American athlete Robert Lee "Bob" Hayes dies.
MUSIC HISTORY
1961 - Bobby Vee is at the top of the American singles chart with 'Take Good Care Of My Baby'.
1971 - The Who take the No. 1 spot on the British albums chart with 'Who's Next', on it is also the song 'Won't Get Fooled Again'.
1976 - Wild Cherry is the top of the American singles chart with 'Play That Funky Music'.
1993 - Meat Loaf reigns on the British albums chart with 'Bat Out Of Hell II'.
BORN ON THIS DAY
1939 - Frankie Avalon (1959 'Venus').
1962 - Joanne Catherall, singer in the group The Human League (1981 'Don't You Want Me').