ON THIS day

1781

The planet Uranus is discovered by British astronomer William Herschel, a German-born musician turned astronomer, from Bath, England. He uses a telescope he made.

1856

Victoria is the first in the world to adopt the secret ballot for parliamentary elections when the Legislative Council passes an electoral act by a one-vote majority. 1881

Tsar Alexander II is murdered by revolutionaries, who hurl two bombs at him in St Petersburg. Earlier in the day, the Russian emperor had agreed to allow democratic reforms.

1884

Sudan’s Islamist rebel al-Mahdi besieges Khartoum. The defenders, an Egyptian garrison under British general Charles “Chinese’’ Gordon, are eventually slaughtered. 1894

The first public striptease is performed at the Divan Fayonau music hall in Paris. The show consists of a girl acting as if she is going to bed.

1938

A day after Adolf Hitler leads Nazi troops to invade Austria, a new Nazi Austrian government proclaims Anschluss – union with Germany.

1972

The first episode of Number 96 screens on Channel 10.

1987

Al Grassby’s apology to family of Don Mackay is read in NSW Supreme Court. Grassby says he passed on to two MPs unfounded claims that Mackay’s wife Barbara, son Paul and solicitor Ian Salmon had been involved in the murder.

1996

Lone gunman Thomas Hamilton goes on a shooting spree at a school in Dunblane, Scotland, killing 16 children and their teacher.

2012

Encyclopedia Britannica announces that it will cease publication of its print version.

2013

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio is elected the new pope, taking the papal name Pope Francis.