IT HAPPENED TODAY
1199:
Richard I, Coeur de Lion, King of England, was killed in battle.
1483:
The painter Raphael was born in Urbino, Italy — he died on the same day 37 years later.
1830:
The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, whose adherents are known as Mormons, was founded by Joseph Smith in New York.
1843:
William Wordsworth was appointed Poet Laureate, the day before his 73rd birthday.
1896:
The opening ceremony of the first modern Olympic Games was held in Athens.
1909:
US Commander Robert Peary
became the first man to reach the North Pole — it was his sixth attempt in 15 years.
1917:
The United States entered the First World War.
1965:
1994:
2009:
Pay As You Earn income tax was introduced in Britain. The system was devised by Sir Cornelius Gregg.
Early Bird, the first commercial communications satellite, was launched by the United States.
The presidents of the African states of Rwanda and Burundi died in a plane crash.
A 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck near L’Aquila, Italy, killing 307 people.
ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR:
Facebook introduced a new educational tool to help users spot fake news stories posted to the social networking site.
BIRTHDAYS:
Andre Previn, conductor, 89; Barry Levinson, film director and producer, 76; John Ratzenberger, actor, 71; Michael Rooker, actor, 63; Rory Bremner impressionist, 57; Paul Rudd, actor, 49; Lord Frederick Windsor, son of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, 39; Fabrice Muamba, former footballer, 30.