1853

Giuseppe Verdi’s opera “Il Trovatore” premiered in Rome.

1861

Georgia became the fifth state to secede from the Union; it would join the Confederacy the following month.

1937

Howard Hughes set a transcontinental air speed record in his H-1 Racer aircraft, flying from Los Angeles to Newark, N.J., in seven hours, 28 minutes and 25 seconds.

1942

A German submarine sank the Canadian liner RMS Lady Hawkins off Cape Hatteras, N.C., killing 251 people; 71 survived.

1955

President Dwight D. Eisenhower held the first televised presidential press conference.

1966

Indira Gandhi was elected to her first term as prime minister of India.

1987

H. Guy Hunt became Alabama’s first Republican governor since 1874 as he was sworn into office, succeeding George C. Wallace.

2012

Rupert Murdoch’s media empire apologized and agreed to cash payouts to 37 people whose telephones had been hacked by its tabloid press.

Actor Tippi Hedren is 95. Actor Shelley Fabares is 81. Country musician Dolly Parton is 79. Actor Katey Sagal is 71. Comedian Paul Rodriguez is 70. Tennis Hall of Famer Stefan Edberg is 59. Actor Shawn Wayans is 54. Football Hall of Famer Walter Jones is 51. Comedian-impressionist Frank Caliendo is 51. U.S. Olympic gymnastics gold medalist Shawn Johnson is 33.

Film director Damien Chazelle is 40. Basketball coach and commentator Jeff Van Gundy is 63. Actor-singer Michael Crawford is 83. Actor Drea (DRAY-uh’) de Matteo is 53. Actor Jodie Sweetin is 43.