Alan Shepherd became the first American man in space, taking a 15 minute sub-orbital flight, 115 miles above the Earth 

The British fighter plane Spitfire made its first test flight from Eastleigh, Southampton 

Spanish steamer Principe de Asturias sinks NE of Spain, 500 die 

First ascent of Mt Erebus, Antarctica 

First radio broadcast of a musical composition aired 

Definitive treaty for construction of Baghdad railway drawn 

American Hall of Fame found 

English engineer Robert Stephenson's tubular bridge was opened, linking Anglesey with mainland Wales 

Alessandro Volta, Italian physicist, dies