1915 - French troops under Joffre launched the Battle of Artois, advancing against German positions at Arras. Casualties were huge for very little gain. When the battle ended on May 27, 216,000 men had been lost.

1926 - Americans Richard E. Byrd and Floyd Bennett became the first people to fly over the North Pole.

1927 - Canberra replaced Melbourne as the capital of Australia.

1960 - The United States became the first country to legalize use of the birth control pill.

1978 - The body of former Italian prime minister Aldo Moro was found in the boot of a car in rome; he had been kidnapped and murdered by the Red Brigades.