TODAY IN HISTORY

TODAY IS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017

On this day in history:

1740 - Maria Theresa became the ruler of Austria, Hungary and Bohemia with the death of her father, Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI.

1774 - The new Continental Congress, the governing body of America’s colonies, passed an order proclaiming that all citizens of the colonies “discountenance and discourage all horse racing and all kinds of gaming, cock fighting, exhibitions of shows, plays and other expensive diversions and entertainment.” 1827 - The Battle of Navarino took place during the Greek War for Independence. 1935 - Mao Zedong arrived in Hanoi after his Long March that took just over a year. He then set up the Chinese Communist Headquarters. 1944 - Allied forces invaded the Philippines.

1944 - During the Second World WarI, the Yugoslav cities of Belgrade and Dubrovnik were liberated.

1952 - The Mau Mau uprising against white settlers began in Kenya.

1968 - Jackie Lee Bouvier Kennedy married Aristotle Onassis.

1973 - The Sydney Opera House is formally opened by Queen Elizabeth II.

1981 - Two police officers and an armored car guard are killed during an armed robbery in Rockland County, New York, carried out by members of the Black Liberation Army and Weather Underground. 1982 - During the UEFA Cup match between FC Spartak Moscow and HFC Haarlem, 66 people are crushed to death in the Luzhniki disaster.

1991 - A 6.8 Mw earthquake strikes the Uttarkashi region of India, killing more than 1,000 people.

1995 - Britain, France and the US announced a treaty that banned atomic blasts in the South Pacific.

2003 - A 40-year-old man went over Niagara Falls without safety devices and survived. He was charged with illegally performing a stunt.

2009 - European astronomers discover 32 exoplanets.

2011 - Libyan Civil War: National Transitional Council rebel forces capture ousted Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi in his hometown of Sirte and kill him shortly thereafter.