- 1797 - Birth of Emperor Wilhelm I of Germany (pictured)
- 1799 - Birth of astronomer Friedrich Wilhelm Argelander
- 1832 - Death of writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
- 1935 - The world's first regular television service, Fernsehsender Paul Nipkow, starts broadcasting
- 1937 - Birth of athlete Armin Hary, first man to run 100 m in 10.0 s