ON THIS DAY

1788:

HMS Supply leaves Sydney for Norfolk Island to establish a penal colony there.

Allied powers land forces on Crete.

The Queen opens Australia’s federal Parliament in Canberra.

A Sabena Boeing 707 crashes in Belgium, killing 73 people, including 18 US figure skaters.

Death of Nat King Cole, US singer and jazz pianist.

Britain changes over to decimal currency. Britain and Argentina restore diplomatic relations, eight years after the Falklands War.

South African government announces it will free all political prisoners and ANC agrees to end armed struggle against apartheid.

Galileo Galilei, Italian astronomer (15641642); Graham Kennedy, Australian actor-TV personality (1934-2005); Matt Groening, US cartoonist, creator of The Simpsons (1954-).

1897: 1954: 1961: 1965: 1971: 1990: 1991: Birthdays: