Today in History

1838 – French Bishop Jean Baptiste Franc¸ois Pompallier lands at Hokianga, alarming official British Resident James Busby, who fears a French attempt at colonisation.

1863 – London’s Metropolitan line, the world’s first underground passenger railway, opens.

1902 – Ellen Dougherty, of Palmerston North, becomes the world’s first state-registered nurse.

1912 – The first flying boat, designed by Glenn Curtiss, makes its maiden flight at Hammondsport, New York.

1920 – The League of Nations is established as the Treaty of Versailles goes into effect.

1928 – Leon Trotsky is ordered into exile by the Soviet government; New Zealanders George Hood and John Moncrieff disappear in attempt to complete the first flight across the Tasman.

1929 – Tintin and his dog Snowy, left, cartoon creations of Belgian artist Herge (Georges Remi), make

their first appearance.

1946 – The League of Nations is officially superseded by the United Nations.

1956 – Elvis Presley records his first songs for RCA, including subsequent No 1 hit Heartbreak Hotel.

1968 – John Gorton, government leader in the Senate, is sworn in as Australian prime minister, following the mysterious disappearance of Harold Holt.

1971 – Death of French fashion designer Coco Chanel.

2000 – America Online agrees to buy Time Warner for US$162 billion, making it the largest corporate merger.

2016 – Musician David Bowie dies of cancer in New York, aged 69.

Birthdays

Rod Stewart, UK pop singer (1945-); George Foreman, US heavyweight boxing champion (1949-); Fran Walsh, NZ screenwriter (1959-); Jemaine Clement, NZ actor/ screenwriter (1974-); Hayden Roulston, NZ cyclist (1981-).