TODAY IN HISTORY

In 1710, England gained control of Nova Scotia when the French surrendered Port Royal.

In 1792, U.S. president George Washington laid the cornerstone of the White House.

In 1812, British and Canadian forces under General Sir Isaac Brock defeated the U.S. army at Queenston Heights on the Niagara frontier. Brock was killed during the fighting. Almost 1,000 Americans were taken prisoner while the victors lost only 28 killed and 77 wounded. The victory helped to raise the morale of the inhabitants of Upper Canada and convince them that they could resist conquest by their larger neighbour.

In 1960, Bill Mazeroski’s ninthinning homer gave the Pittsburgh Pirates a 10-9 win over the visiting New York Yankees in Game Seven of the World Series. It was the first homer to end a World Series. (Toronto’s Joe Carter also accomplished the feat in 1993).

In 1974, longtime television host Ed Sullivan died in New York City at age 72.

In 1984, the “Challenger’’ and its seven-member crew glided to a perfect landing at Cape Canaveral, Fla. The landing capped two historic firsts during its eight-day mission: Marc Garneau became the first Canadian to fly in space and Kathy Sullivan became the first woman to walk in space.

In 1987, Frank McKenna’s New Brunswick Liberals won all 58 seats in a provincial election, defeating Richard Hatfield’s Conservatives.