today in history

In 1666, “The Great Fire” of London started in a wooden house on Pudding Lane. The fire burned for three days, destroying about 13,200 houses, some bridges and a number of churches and public buildings — including St. Paul’s Cathedral. About 200,000 people were left homeless and six died. The fire is credited with founding the institution of fire insurance.

In 1670, Port Royal, Acadia, was returned to France following the Treaty of Breda.

In 1752, the Gregorian calendar was adopted in England.

In 1758, the first Anglican service of worship to be held on Canadian soil was led by Rev. Robert Wolfall at Frobisher Bay, on Baffin Island.

In 1837, Samuel Morse gave the first public demonstration of his magnetic telegraph.

In 1904, the voyage of Capt. John Claus Voss of Victoria, B.C., from Canada to England in a Nootka Indian dugout canoe ended. Voss took three years, three months and 12 days to cover 64,000 kilometres under sail, almost circumnavigating the globe. His canoe, “The Tilicum,” is on display in Victoria. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society to honour his accomplishment.

In 1909, the Scarborough Beach Park, in suburban Toronto, hosted North America’s first air show. However, the American plane, “The Flyer,” was forced to make an emergency landing in Lake Ontario seconds after taking off.