ON THIS DAY

1492: Christopher Columbus embarks from Spain on his first westward voyage.

1852: First steamship to arrive in Sydney, SS Chusan berths after journey from England.

1891: Australia’s second biggest bank at the time, the Bank of Van Diemen’s Land, closes after incurring a debt of £1 million.

1914: Germany declares war on France and Britain warns Germany against invading Belgium.

1945: All ethnic Germans and Hungarians in Czechoslovakia are stripped of their citizenship.

1958: Atomic-powered US submarine Nautilus makes first undersea crossing of North Pole.

1991: Russian branch formally breaks off from the Soviet Union’s Communist Party to form new party led by reform-minded Communists.

Birthdays: Australian politician Alfred Deakin (1856-1919); US singer Tony Bennett (1926-); NZ rugby league player Sonny Bill Williams (1985-).