American essayist, poet, and philosopher best known for his book Walden, a reflection on simple living in natural surroundings, and his essay Civil Disobedience, which argued for individual resistance to unjust government and influenced figures like Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr.
President Abraham Lincoln signs into law a bill establishing the Medal of Honor for the U.S. Army. It was created to honor enlisted soldiers who distinguished themselves in combat during the Civil War.
The Etch A Sketch, a mechanical drawing toy invented by French electrical technician André Cassagnes, goes on sale in the United States. It would become one of the best-selling toys of the 20th century.