At the age of 78

• 09-April-2006 : Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is removed from office after 4 months in a coma.
• 16-July-1971 : Spanish dictator and head of state Francisco Franco makes Prince Juan Carlos his successor.
• 30-December-1970 : Francisco Franco commutes the death sentences of the Burgos Trial defendants to 30 years in prison.
• 10-December-1953 : Albert Schweitzer is given the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize.
• 09-May-1949 : Rainier III of Monaco becomes Prince of Monaco, upon the death of his maternal grandfather Louis II.
• 30-January-1948 : Indian pacifist and leader Mahatma Gandhi is assassinated by Nathuram Godse.
• 04-March-1946 : C.G.E. Mannerheim resigns as president of Finland.
• 06-September-1930 : Jose Felix Uriburu carries out a successful military coup, overthrowing Hipolito Yrigoyen, President of Argentina.
• 22-June-1897 : Queen Victoria celebrates her Diamond Jubilee.
• 18-July-1870 : ''Pastor Aeternus'': Pope Pius IX declares papal infallibility in matters of faith and morals.