ON THIS DAY

1066

Harold II is named king of England.

1540

Henry VIII of England marries his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves.

1838

Samuel Morse publicly demonstrates his telegraph in New Jersey.

1852

French inventor of a reading system for the blind, Louis Braille, 43, dies.

1872

The Prince of Wales Theatre/Opera House, Sydney, burns down for a second time, fatally injuring at least two people. The huge blaze spreads to about 26 other buildings. A theatre on the site will burn a third time, in 1892.

1884

Gregor Mendel, Austrian Augustine monk, biologist and botanist, dies. He pioneered the study of biological heredity and laid the mathematical foundation of the science of genetics.

1891

At Logan Downs, Qld, 120 shearers refuse to accept a pay cut, triggering a prolonged strike.

1929

King Alexander of Yugoslavia (Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes) abolishes the constitution, dissolves the government and establishes a royal dictatorship.

1930

Don Bradman, 21, scores 452 not out for NSW against Queensland at the Sydney Cricket Ground, setting a world first-class record.

1941

US president Franklin Roosevelt (pictured) defines the US goal of “Four Freedoms’’: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want and freedom from fear.

1977

The record company EMI fires British punk band the Sex Pistols after the group makes a foul-mouthed appearance on British TV and swears at London Airport staff.

1984

Greg Chappell, Dennis Lillee and Rod Marsh all retire from Test cricket as Australia defeat Pakistan at the SCG.

2004

In his last game for Australia, cricket captain Steve Waugh scores 80 as Australia holds for a draw against India at the SCG.