Today in History

1533 – Pope Clement VII excommunicates England’s King Henry VIII.

1877 – Kate Edgar becomes first woman in New Zealand to gain a university degree, with a bachelor of arts.

1921 – Mongolia declares its independence from China.

1929 – Firefighters in Gillingham, England, plan to show off their abilities by ‘‘rescuing’’ nine boys and six firemen from a house. Instead of using smoke bombs, they set fire to the structure, and 15 die. 1930 – Don Bradman, left, scores 309 for Australia on the first day of a cricket test against England. 1950 – Puppets Andy Pandy, Teddy and Looby Loo first appear on BBC Television. 1955 – Congress authorises all United States currency to say ‘‘In God We Trust’’.

1960 – To Kill a Mockingbird ,by Harper Lee, is published.

1983 – Lorraine Downes of New Zealand is crowned Miss Universe.

2006 – Bomb attacks in Mumbai, India, leave 209 people dead.

2010 – Spain defeat Netherlands 1-0 in extra time to win football World Cup.

2015 – Mexican drug lord Joaquin ‘‘El Chapo’’ Guzman escapes from Altiplano maximum-security prison via a 1.5km tunnel from his shower. He is on the run for six months.

Birthdays

Robert I the Bruce, Scottish king (1274-1329); Thomas Bowdler, English editor of Shakespearean works (1754-1825); John Quincy Adams, US president (1767-1848); EB White, US writer (1899-1985); Giorgio Armani, Italian fashion designer (1934-); Leon Spinks, former world heavyweight boxing champion (1953-); Richie Sambora, rock guitarist of Bon Jovi (1959-), Suzanne Vega, US singersongwriter (1959-); Steven Richards, New Zealand racing driver (1972-); Caroline Wozniacki, Danish tennis player (1990-).