TODAY IN HISTORY

In 68 AD, the brutal and paranoid Roman emperor Nero committed suicide at age 31. Nero is regarded as one of the worst of Rome’s emperors, better known for devoting himself to horse racing, singing, dancing and sexual exploits than administrative duties. He is often accused of “fiddling while Rome burned” although historians generally agree that he did in fact try to control the fire that destroyed much of the city in 64 AD.

In 597, St. Columba, as he was known to the Irish, died. He spread the gospel from Ireland to the northern British Isles.

In 1549, the Church of England adopted “The Book of Common Prayer,” compiled by Thomas Cranmer.

In 1672, Peter I of Russia, known as “Peter the Great,” was born. As Tsar of Russia from 1682-1725, he turned his country into a major European power. He founded St. Petersburg, which he made the new capital.

In 1793, the importation of slaves into Upper Canada was prohibited.

In 1829, 30 people attended Canada’s first temperance meeting in Montreal.

In 1846, a fire ravaged St. John’s, Nfld., leaving nearly 12,000 people homeless.

In 1866, a 20-year-old Irish soldier won the only Victoria Cross awarded for an act of valour on Canadian soil. Private Timothy O’Hea saved 800 German immigrants locked in converted boxcars on a train stopped at Danville, Que. All by himself, O’Hea put out a fire in another boxcar filled with ammunition before it exploded.