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England's got a new queen: succeeds to the throne of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth Realms upon the death of George VI of the United Kingdom and is crowned the next year.
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Princess Grace Kelly releases her last film, High Society, and marries Prince Rainier III of Monaco.
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Harry Truman is inaugurated as U.S. president after being elected in 1948 to his own term; previously he was sworn in following the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt. He authorized the use of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan during World War II, on August 6 and August 9, 1945, respectively.
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"Rock Around the Clock" is a hit single released by Bill Haley & His Comets in May, spurring worldwide interest in rock and roll music.
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, the composer, dies on March 5, the same day as Stalin.
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Albert Einstein dies on April 18 at the age of 76
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Jack Kerouac publishes his first novel in seven years, On the Road.
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The Brooklyn Dodgers win the World Series for the only time before their move to Los Angeles
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Richard Nixon is first elected to the United States Senate
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Sugar Ray Robinson, a champion welterweight boxer
