Today in History

1745 – In the Battle of Prestonpans in Scotland, the Jacobite army of just over 3000 under Bonnie Prince Charlie, right, defeats the English Royal forces.

1792 – A proclamation is made that the French monarchy is abolished. 1834 – Ngati Ruanui chief Oaoiti is bayoneted and captured as a Pakeha rescue mission begins for captives in Taranaki. In 1835, a committee of Britain’s House of Commons condemns the level of force used.

1938 – A hurricane slams into Long Island and southern New England in the United States, causing more than 600 deaths.

1939 – Premier Armand Calinescu of Romania is assassinated by the Iron Guard.

1956 – Nicaraguan dictator Anastasio Somoza is shot by a poet. He dies eight days later.

1985 – A little-known actor named George Clooney makes his first appearance as a handyman on television sitcom The Facts of Life. 1999 – An earthquake in Taiwan kills thousands of people, and leaves an estimated 100,000 homeless.

2002 – Nils Bohlin, Swedish inventor of the three-point seatbelt, dies, aged 82.

Birthdays

HG Wells, English author (1866-1946); Charles Upham, New Zealand soldier (1908-94); Larry Hagman, US actor (1931-2012); Leonard Cohen, Canadian singersongwriter (1934-2016); Stephen King, US author (1947-); Bill Murray, US actor (1950-); Shinzo Abe, Japanese prime minister (1954-); Ethan Coen, US film-maker (1957-); Kevin Rudd, Australian prime minister (1957-); Kelly Evernden, NZ tennis player (1961-); Curtly Ambrose, West Indies cricketer (1963-); Belinda Cordwell, NZ tennis player (1965-); Liam Gallagher, English singer (1972-); Doug Howlett, NZ rugby player (1978-); Chris Gayle, West Indies cricketer (1979-).