TODAY IN history

On today’s date:

In 1475, Michelangelo, famous for his paintings such as the Sistine Chapel, sculpture including David, and architecture – the rebuilding of St. Peter’s Cathedral – was born in Caprese, Italy. He died at age 88 in 1564.

In 1834, the city of York was renamed Toronto. By this time the city had 10,000 residents. William Lyon Mackenzie was elected mayor in municipal elections held on March

27. His first act was to order wooden sidewalks built and drains dug. When it was learned the work would mean a tax increase, there was a riot in which six people were killed.

In 1888, American novelist Louisa May Alcott died in Boston at age

55. Her best-known work is the children’s classic, “Little Women.”

In 1944, U.S. heavy bombers staged the first full-scale American raid on Berlin during the Second World War.

In 1961, a bill permitting fluoridation of municipal water supplies passed second reading in the Ontario legislature by a unanimous all-party vote.

In 1981, Walter Cronkite anchored the “CBS Evening News” for the last time before retiring. He was replaced by Dan Rather.

In 1997, Queen Elizabeth launched the official royal website. After logging on to the site at a London high school, she exchanged email with students at a public school in the northern Ontario community of Nakina.

In 2016, former U.S. first lady Nancy Reagan - the helpmate, backstage adviser and fierce protector of Ronald Reagan in his journey from actor to president and finally during his 10-year struggle with Alzheimer’s disease - died at age 94.