A LOOK BACK AT LIFE ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

— In 1473, the founder of modern astronomy, Nicolaus Copernicus, was born in Poland. His theory established the sun as the centre of the planetary system. — In 1878, Thomas Edison was issued a U.S. patent for his phonograph. In the autumn of 1877, Edison had successfully tested a crude cylinder phonograph that recorded his voice on a piece of tinfoil wrapped around a cylinder. He had shouted into the mouthpiece of the instrument the nursery rhyme Mary Had a Little Lamb. When he played back the recording, and a recognizable reproduction of his voice emerged, Edison was quoted as saying: “I was never so taken aback in my life.” — In 1889, Saskatchewan Metis leader Gabriel Dumont was pardoned by the federal government for his actions during the 1885 Northwest Rebellion led by Louis Riel. — In 1906, Michigan doctor William Kellogg formed the Battle Creek Cornflake Company to make a breakfast cereal he had developed for patients suffering from mental disorders. — In 1920, shareholders of the Grand Trunk Railway ratified its sale to the federal government. It became part of the Canadian National Railway system. — In 1930, the Quebec legislature rejected a bill to admit women to the practice of law. — In 1945, U.S. Marines landed on the Japaneseheld island of Iwo Jima during the Second World War. The island was eventually taken on March 26 at a cost of more than 6,800 American lives. — In 1959, an agreement was signed by Britain, Turkey and Greece granting Cyprus its independence. — In 1968, the federal Liberal minority government lost a tax vote in the Commons. The Opposition Conservatives demanded, without success, that the government resign. On Feb. 28, the Liberals won a vote of confidence. — In 1970, Canada claimed jurisdiction over all waters of the Northwest Passage, and between the islands of the Arctic archipelago. — In 1974, the National Hockey League and World Hockey Association reached an out-of-court settlement in their litigation. The agreement struck down the NHL’s reserve clause, which bound a player to a team for life. — In 1983, Joe Clark resigned as Progressive Conservative leader — In 1996, Canada's new $2 coin, dubbed the toonie, was introduced. — In 2001, the Canada-U.S. Automotive Agreement expired after 36 years. It was allowed to lapse after the World Trade Organization ruled it violated international trade laws.