ON THIS DAY

1776: George Washington’s army crosses the Delaware River during the American Revolution.

1888: JT Williams makes first parachute descent in Australia, jumping from a balloon over Sydney.

1914: British destroy German naval squadron off Falkland Islands.

1925: Adolf Hitler’s book Mein Kampf published.

1941: The US, Britain and Australia all declare war on Japan; Japan invades Thailand and Malaya.

1974: Greece votes to become a republic and eliminate the monarchy.

1980: Former Beatle John Lennon shot dead by a demented fan in New York.

1981: The ACTU ends a two-year-old ban on export of uranium from Australia.

Birthdays: Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-1587); US entertainer Sammy Davis Jnr (1925-1990); Australian country musician James Blundell (1964); US rapper Nicki Minaj (1982-).