Today in History

1596 – A tsunami devastates the east coast of Kyushu, the southernmost major island of Japan.

1781 – Los Angeles is founded by Spanish settlers and named El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora La Reina de Los Angeles – The Town of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels.

1862 – English astronomer Edmond Halley observes the comet named after him.

1863 – The Delaware is wrecked on rocks northeast of Nelson. Five local Maori, including Huria Matenga, helped get the crew ashore. One crew member died.

1886 – Native American warrior Geronimo surrenders to United States government troops.

1888 – George Eastman, left, patents the first roll-film camera and registers Kodak.

1909 – The world’s first Boy Scout Rally is held at Crystal Palace, near London. 1936 – Swing Time, starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, is released.

1957 – Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus enlists the National Guard to prevent nine African American students from entering Central High School in Little Rock.

1972 – US swimmer Mark Spitz wins his seventh gold medal at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

1998 – Google files for incorporation in California.

2000 – Truck owners blockade petrol depots and refineries across France in protest against high fuel prices. 2002 – Kelly Clarkson, 20, a Texas cocktail waitress, wins the first season of American Idol.

2006 – Australian wildlife enthusiast and TV personality Steve Irwin dies aged 44 when he is pierced by a stingray barb.

2010 – A plane crashes soon after taking off from the Fox Glacier airstrip, killing all nine people on board. A 7.1-magnitude earthquake also rocks Canterbury, but there is no loss of life.

2014 – US comedian Joan Rivers dies, aged 81.

Birthdays

Dawn Fraser, Australian Olympic swimming champion (1937-); Tom Watson, US golfer (1949-); Robbie Deans, New Zealand rugby player and coach (1959-); Beyonce, US singer (1981-).