ON THIS day

573

An Irish Rebellion by Catholics is crushed effectively with the surrender of the nobleman James Fitzmaurice, who prostrates himself before English official John Perrot.

1836

The Mexican army lays siege to San Antonio fort, the Alamo, as Texans fight for independence. The siege ends on March 6 with all defenders, about 180, killed.

1848

Soldiers in Paris shoot dead about 50 demonstrators against the French monarchy. The next day, King Louis Philippe abdicates and flees to England.

1886

Chemist Charles Martin Hall, 22, working in a shed behind his family home in Ohio, finds an economic method of mass producing aluminium.

1903

US president Theodore “Teddy’’ Roosevelt signs a long-term lease of Guantanamo Bay with Cuban president Tomas Estrada Palma, for rent of 2000 gold coins a year.

1911

New Zealander Joseph J. Hammond carries the first aircraft passengers in Australia — his mechanic and then Mrs Hammond — over Victoria.

1942

The main Australian force on Timor surrenders to the Japanese, after a three-day battle costing 84 lives. Australians who remain on the island wage a guerrilla war.

1965

British-born comedian Stan Laurel, of the comedy team Laurel and Hardy, dies at 74.

1978

Tracey Wickham, 15, sets a new world record by swimming 800m in 8 min 30.53sec at Brisbane, defeating Michelle Ford at the Australian championships.

1997

Scottish scientists announce they have cloned adult sheep DNA and produced a healthy sheep that they named Dolly.

2000

Mexican-born American musician Carlos Santana wins eight Grammy Awards for Supernatural, tying the record set by Michael Jackson.