ON THIS DAY

1813: The French are defeated by German army preventing a march on to Berlin.

1839: British take control of Hong Kong in war with China.

1913: Copenhagen’s The Little Mermaid landmark is unveiled at the entrance of the harbour.

1926: Rudolph Valentino, 31, one of the biggest star of the silent screen, dies suddenly.

1937: Japanese forces land at Shanghai in China.

1939: Axe murderer John Trevor Kelly becomes the last man hanged in NSW.

1962: Telstar satellite relays first live TV program between US and Europe.

2006: A British pilot breaks a land-speed record for driving with a diesel engine, racing across the Bonneville Salt Flats at more than 523km/h.

Birthdays: France’s King Louis XVI (1754-1793); English drummer Keith Moon (1946-1978); US basketball player Kobe Bryant (1978-).