Today in History

1298 – William Wallace, who led Scottish resistance against English rule, is defeated by Edward I’s forces at the Battle of Falkirk.

1620 – Exiled pilgrims set out from Holland for the New World on the ship Speedwell, which leaks so badly they return to England and transfer to the Mayflower.

1933 – US aviator Wiley Post completes the first solo flight around the world in seven days, 18 hours and 49 minutes.

1942 – Nazis begin sending 300,000 Warsaw Ghetto Jews to Treblinka extermination camp.

1976 – Japan completes its World War II reparations, with a final payment to the Philippines.

1981 – Supporters and opponents of the Springbok tour clash in Gisborne, during the first match. South African beat Poverty Bay 24-6.

1987 – Long queues form to buy tickets in NZ’s first Lotto draw. 1991 – Cannibal and serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer is arrested in

Milwaukee.

2003 – Qusay and Uday Hussein, sons of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, die in a firefight with US forces in Mosul.

2011 – Twin terror attacks rock Norway: a bomb blast targeting government buildings in central Oslo and a massacre at a youth camp on the island of Utoya result in the deaths of 77 people.

Birthdays

Oscar de la Renta, Dominican fashion designer (1932-2014); Terence Stamp, UK actor (1938-); Sir Anand Satyanand, NZ governorgeneral (1944-); Danny Glover, US actor (1946-); Don Henley, US musician (1947-); Stu Wilson, NZ rugby player (1954-); Willem Dafoe, US actor (1955-); Rena Owen, NZ actor (1962-); Scott Dixon, NZ motor racer (1980-); Colin de Grandhomme, Zimbawe-born NZ cricketer (1986-); Israel Adesanya, NZ mixed martial artist (1989-); Trent Boult, NZ cricketer (1989-); Selena Gomez, US singer/actor (1992-); Prince George, UK royal (2013-).