1819 – Seventeen people die and over 600 were injured in cavalry charges at a public meeting at St. Peter's Field, Manchester, England, which was held to demand the reform of parliamentary representation. This became known as The Peterloo Massacre.
1906 – An estimated 8.2 MW earthquake hit Valparaíso, Chile, killing 3,886 people.
1960 – Cyprus gained its independence from the United Kingdom.
2012 – South African police fatally shot 34 miners and wounded 78 more during an industrial dispute near Rustenburg.