ON THIS DAY
1066
Death of Edward the Confessor, king of England who will be canonised in 1161.
1871
Chinese miner Ah Chang banks “Precious’’, a 46kg gold nugget, near Dunolly, Victoria
1895
French Captain Alfred Dreyfus, convicted of treason, is publicly stripped of his rank in the Field of Mars in Paris; he was ultimately vindicated.
1914
After the great success of the Model T, car maker Henry Ford raises his workers’ pay from $2.40 to $5 a day and reduces the hours of the work day.
1919
Anton Drexler founds the German Workers’ Party, the forerunner of the Nazi Party, in Munich.
1922
Irish explorer Ernest Shackleton dies at 47 of a heart attack in the Falkland Islands as he prepared to attempt a fourth expedition to Antarctica.
1941
Australian forces capture Bardia, Libya. They capture 40,000 Italian prisoners at a cost of 130 killed in Australia’s first major land battle of World War II.
1941
Pioneer aviatrix Amy Johnson goes missing flying over the Thames. She is never found.
1968
Alexander Dubcek comes to power as the “Prague Spring” begins in Czechoslovakia.
1971
World’s first one-day international cricket match held at MCG. Australia defeats England by five wickets.
1973
American musician Bruce Springsteen released his debut album, Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.
1976
Family Law Act comes into operation, starting the era of no-fault divorce.
1975
Tasman Bridge in Hobart collapses after being hit by the freighter Lake Illawarra (pictured), 12 die.
2012
Australian captain Michael Clarke scores 329 not out against India at the SCG, the highest Test score at the ground.