TODAY IN history

■ In 1773, the ship, “Hector,” arrived at Brown’s Point, near Pictou. Hector carried 178 Scottish immigrants — the first large wave of immigration that made Scots the predominant ethnic group in Nova Scotia. A replica ship was later built to commemorate the voyage and is on display in Pictou harbour.

■ In 1835, Charles Darwin reached the Galapagos Islands aboard “HMS Beagle.”

■ In 1860, Edward, Prince of Wales, visited Niagara Falls, where he witnessed a performance of the great French tightrope walker Blondin.

■ In 1916, tanks were used in combat for the first time by the British at the battle of Flers-Courcelette, during the First World War.

■ In 1917, Russia was proclaimed a republic by Alexander Fyodorovich Kerensky, whose government was overthrown two months later by the Bolsheviks.

■ In 1958, Cecile Langlois became the first Dionne quintuplet to become a mother when she gave birth to a son.

■ In 1960, Maurice (Rocket) Richard announced his retirement from hockey after playing 18 seasons with the Montreal Canadiens. Richard was the greatest goal-scorer of his era, with a regular season total of 544 and he once scored 50 goals in 50 games. He died in May 2000.

■ In 1976, Team Canada won the first Canada Cup hockey tournament when Darryl Sittler scored in overtime to beat Czechoslovakia 5-4.