Today in History

1254 – The British Parliament first convenes. 1531 – Henry VIII is recognised as Supreme Head of the Church in England. 1858 – Bernadette Soubirous, right, first claims to have seen the Virgin Mary in a grotto near Lourdes, in southwest France. 1864 – Charles Heaphy rescues a soldier under fire at Wairari, Waikato, for which he is later