TODAY IN history

In 1825, composer Ludwig van Beethoven made his final public appearance, two years before his death.

In 1850, California became the 31st U.S. state and the first on the Pacific.

In 1945, Toronto-born Dick Fowler became the only Canadian to toss a major league no-hitter. Just back from more than 30 months as a Canadian Army private, the 24-year-old right-hander allowed only four walks as the Philadelphia Athletics shaded the visiting St. Louis Browns 1-0.

In 1948, North Korea was established as the Peoples’ Democratic Republic of Korea following the partitioning of North and South Korea into separate regimes under Soviet and U.S. influence.

In 1959, it was announced that Canada’s first nuclear power station, costing $60 million, would be built near Kincardine, on Lake Huron.

In 1963, the first giant panda was born in captivity in Beijing.

In 1964, Quebec borrowed $100 million from British Columbia, the first time one province borrowed money from another.

In 1967, the federal Progressive Conservative party ousted John Diefenbaker as leader at a Toronto convention and replaced him with Nova Scotia Premier Robert Stanfield.

In 1984, Pope John Paul arrived at Quebec City to begin a 12-day visit to Canada.