1964 The US space probe Ranger 7 sent back the first close-up photographs of the moon, revealing details never before available from Earth-bound telescopes.
1954 Italian explorer, mountain climber, geologist, and cartographer Ardito Desio led the first ascent of K2, the second-highest mountain on Earth.
1800 German chemist Friedrich Wöhler was born in Eschersheim. He is best known for his synthesis of urea, but also the first to isolate several chemical elements, such as yttrium, beryllium, and titanium.
1790 America’s first patent was issued to inventor Samuel Hopkins for “the making of Pot ash and Pearl ash by a new Apparatus and Process”.
1498 Christopher Columbus discovered the island of Trinidad during his third voyage of discovery.
