ON THIS DAY

3114BC

The Mesoamerican Long Count calendar, used by several civilisations, notably the Mayans, starts. It counts the days in groups of 20.

1786

Captain Francis Light lands on Penang island, which the Sultan of Kedah of Malaya will cede to Britain. 1824

London upgrades NSW from penal colony to crown colony — a milestone on the road to democracy and nationhood.

1909

Australian batsman Warren Bardsley (pictured) becomes the first player to score a century in each innings of a Test with 130 in the second innings in a drawn fifth Test against England at The Oval. 1934

The prison at Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay, US, begins taking civilian felons. It was a jail until 1963 and is now a tourist attraction. 1956

Artist Jackson Pollock, 44, dies in a car accident on Long Island, New York. 1965

Race riots erupt in the Watts district of Los Angeles, resulting in the deaths of 34 people.

1966

Beatle John Lennon makes a qualified apology in Chicago for his comment: “Christianity will go, it will shrink and vanish. We’re more popular than Jesus now.’’ Christians had threatened protests against a Beatles tour of the US. 1977

English batsman Geoff Boycott scores his 100th first-class hundred, playing against Australia at Headingley. 1989

Actor John Meillon, 55, dies at Neutral Bay.

2003

Jemaah Islamiah leader Riduan Isamuddin, better known as Hambali, is arrested in Thailand. 2014

American comedian and actor Robin Williams, who was known for his manic stand-up routines and his diverse film performances, dies by suicide.