Today in History

1498 – Death of Tomas de Torquemada, first Grand Inquisitor of Spain.

1630 – The Massachusetts village of Shawmut changes its name to Boston.

1847 – The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust buys the playwright’s birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon. 1848 – Slavery is abolished in all French territories.

1857 – The song Jingle Bells is copyrighted by James Lord Pierpont of Boston.

1905 – The Original All Blacks – the first New Zealand national rugby team to play in the northern hemisphere – kick off their tour with a 55-4 win over Devon.

1932 – Mohandas Gandhi begins a prison hunger strike in protest at Britain’s decision to separate India’s electoral system by caste.

1945 – Japan surrenders Hong Kong at the end of World War II. 1956 – Australian television launches, with Bruce Gyngell announcing on TCN9 Sydney: ‘‘Good evening and welcome to television.’’

1974 – US President Gerald Ford announces a conditional amnesty programme for Vietnam war deserters and draft-evaders.

1975 – Papua New Guinea gains full independence from Australia.

1977 – Death of US-born Greek soprano Maria Callas, left, at 53.

1996 – Romania and Hungary sign a treaty to end a centuries-old rift and help them join Nato and the European Union.

2015 – An 8.3-magnitude earthquake hits Chile. While only five are killed, a million are forced to evacuate their homes.

Birthdays

Henry V, king of England (1386-1422); Lauren Bacall, US actress (1924-2014); BB King, US musician (1925-2015); Peter Falk, US actor (1927-2011); Mickey Rourke, US actor (1952-); Annelise Coberger, NZ Olympic skier (1971-); Suzie Bates, NZ cricketer (1987-); Nick Jonas, US musician (1992-).