TODAY IN HISTORY

1690

Forces of King William III of England triumph in the Battle of the Boyne in Ireland over troops loyal to the former King James, a Catholic.

1804

US vice president Aaron Burr fatally wounds political rival Alexander Hamilton in a duel in New Jersey. Burr’s career ends in disgrace.

1816

Governor Lachlan Macquarie lays the foundation stone for a lighthouse at South Head.

1891

Bondi Aquarium, including a concert hall, burns down at Tamarama. The aquarium and amusement park will be rebuilt and stay open until 1911.

1945 1966

US Army uses napalm on Japanese forces on the Philippines island Luzon.

The Arbitration Commission introduces a minimum adult male wage for federal awards.

1974

Frank Sinatra is asked to apologise after commenting in concert that Australian journalists were “hookers” on July 9.

1975

China announces that more than 6000 lifesize ancient terracotta warriors have been unearthed near Xi’an.

1977

The Daily Telegraph exposes how a drug empire in Griffith is threatening innocent locals. The intimidation results four days later in the death of anti-drugs crusader Donald Mackay.

2003

Singer Delta Goodrem, 18, announces she has been diagnosed with a form of cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and is being treated at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney.

2019

Last models of Volkswagen’s Beetle car are produced in Pueblo, Mexico, ending production worldwide after being produced for 80 years.