On this day:
1906: The Wright brothers’ flying machine is patented
1960: The most violent earthquake in recorded history, measuring 9.5 on the Richter scale, hits Chile
1992: India launches its Agni rocket
2004: Manmohan Singh becomes the 13th Prime Minister of India
Born on this day:
1772: Ram Mohan Roy, Hindu reformer (founded Brahmo Sabha), born in Radhanagar, British India
1859: Arthur Conan Doyle, Scottish physician, author of Sherlock Holmes
Gone on this day:
1885: Victor Hugo, French author, poet, playwright