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Sir Clive Sinclair sold his computer business for £5m to rival Amstrad

Sinclair Research sold the Sinclair trademark and computer business to Amstrad for £5 million. Sinclair Research Ltd. was reduced to an R&D business and holding company, with shareholdings in several spin-off companies, formed to exploit technologies developed by the company.

Donald Trump weds Ivana Zelníčková

Donald Trump married Czech model Ivana Zelníčková at the Marble Collegiate Church in Manhattan, in a ceremony performed by the Reverend Norman Vincent Peale. Together they had 3 children: Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric. The couple divorced in 1992.

IBM announces the System/360

IBM System/360 was revolutionary in content and unprecedented in scope. It marked a turning point in the emerging field of information science and the understanding of complex systems. It combines microelectronic technology, which makes possible operating speeds measured in billionths of a second.

Winston Churchill resigns as Prime Minister

Aware that he was slowing down both physically and mentally, Churchill at last retired as prime minister in 1955 and was succeeded by Anthony Eden. At the time of his departure, he was considered to have had the longest ministerial career in modern British politics.

Auto pioneer Henry Ford dies at age 83

Henry Ford, the founder of the Ford Motor Company, died of a cerebral hemorrhage at Fair Lane, his estate in Dearborn. Funeral services were held in Detroit's Cathedral Church of St. Paul and he was buried in the Ford Cemetery in Detroit.

The Japanese battleship Yamato is sunk by American planes

The Japanese battleship Yamato,the largest battleships ever built in history was sunk in Japan’s first major counterattack on the ground in the struggle for Okinawa. Displacing 71,659 tons and capable of 27 knots. Over 3,000 sailors died when she exploded and sank.

The first African American to be depicted on a US postage stamp

President Franklin D. Roosevelt directed that Washington be considered for the new stamp series. Booker T. Washington was the first African-American that appeared on a United States postage stamp. He was known for being one of the best orators of his time who used his oration skills to be the voice for African-Americans.

Italy invades Albania

The Italian invasion of Albania was a result of the imperialist policies of Italian dictator Mussolini. Albania was already dependent on Italy’s economy. It seems that 100,000 Italian soldiers and 600 aircraft were involved in the action. A personal union between Italy and Albania was proclaimed.

National Beer Day, marking the end of prohibition in the U.S.

National Beer Day marks the day that the Cullen–Harrison Act was enacted after having been signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The Act allowed people to buy, sell, and drink beer containing up to 3.2% alcohol by weight (or 4.05% by volume) in states that had enacted their own law allowing such sales.

The Battle of Cumberland Church

Army of the Union suffered a defeat at the hands of Confederate forces near Farmville in Virginia. The battle was part of Appomattox Campaign during American Civil War. Confederate forces fortified the high ground around the church which was too strong for Union soldiers to take and they were forced to stop their attacks.

John Walker sells the first friction match

Walker sold his first "Friction Light" from his pharmacy in Stockton on Tees. Walker's first friction matches were made of cardboard but he soon began to use wooden splints cut by hand. His invention of the friction light actually happened almost by accident the year before.

Anniversaries of the (in)famous

born 1954

Jackie Chan

died 1891

P. T. Barnum

died 1947

Henry Ford

born 1938

Jerry Brown