1847  - 

Thomas Edison, the American inventor who, singly or jointly, held a world record 1,093 patents for inventions, is born.

1861  - 

Burke and Wills reach the northern coast but are unable to actually reach the sea, due to mangrove swamps. 

1990  - 

Nelson Mandela, anti-apartheid campaigner and the first democratically-elected President of South Africa, is freed after 27 years in jail.