IT HAPPENED ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

— In 1452, Leonardo da Vinci was born in Vinci, Italy. He would go on to paint some historic religious scenes, most specifically The Last Supper, as well as the Mona Lisa. He was also a scientist, mathematician, engineer, botanist, musician and writer. He died in 1519. — In 1865, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln died, several hours after being shot at Ford's Theatre in Washington by John Wilkes Booth. Andrew Johnson became the 17th American president. — In 1672, a royal edict prohibited fur traders from going to Indian villages. It forced natives to take their furs to the settlements. — In 1729, composer J.S. Bach conducted the premiere performance of his St. Matthew Passion at the St. Thomas Church in Leipzig, Germany. — In 1912, the British luxury liner RMS Titanic sank in the North Atlantic off Newfoundland at 2:20 a.m. ship's time, more than 2 1/2 hours after striking an iceberg; 1,514 people died, while less than half as many survived. — In 1940, British and French troops landed on the coast of Norway during the Second World War but failed to dislodge the German occupation forces. — In 1945, during the Second World War, British and Canadian troops liberated the Nazi concentration camp at Bergen-Belsen. — In 1947, Jackie Robinson, baseball's first black major league player, made his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers on opening day. The Dodgers defeated the Boston Braves, 5-3. — In 1955, the McDonald's hamburger chain was founded in Chicago by Ray Kroc. — In 1959, Cuban leader Fidel Castro arrived in Washington to begin a goodwill tour of the U.S. — In 1977, the Montreal Expos played their first game at Olympic Stadium. They lost 7-2 to Philadelphia before more than 57,000 fans. — In 1985, South Africa said it would repeal laws prohibiting sex and marriage between whites and non-whites. — In 1985, the Royal Canadian Mint recommended the $1 bill be replaced by a dollar coin. The loonie was introduced in 1987. — In 1989, 95 people died and more than 200 were injured in an overcrowded standing-room area before an English FA Cup game between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest in Sheffield.