ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

April 15

❑ 1 year ago… Rwanda plan slam

The UN’s Refugee Agency claims the British government’s plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda in Africa is a breach of international law.

❑ 4 years ago… Notre Dame blaze

Fire breaks out at the historic cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris (left) causing the spire to collapse and destroying most of its roof.

❑ 10 years ago… Boston bombing

Two bombs explode at a marathon in the city of Boston, US, leaving three people dead and injuring more than 280.

❑ 13 years ago… Volcano drama

Ash from the eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland leads to the cancellation of flights across Europe.

❑ 34 years ago… Football tragedy

At the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough in Sheffield, 97 fans die as the result of a crush caused by police failings.

❑ 39 years ago… Tommy Cooper dies

The 63-year-old comic (right), famous for his magic routines, suffers a heart attack and dies on live TV at the

London Palladium.

❑ 68 years ago… McDonald’s launches

US entrepreneur Ray Kroc opens the first McDonald’s fast food restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois.

❑ 78 years ago… Belsen liberated

British forces liberate the Nazi concentration camp Bergen-Belsen, discovering 60,000 starving prisoners and 13,000 corpses of other inmates.

❑ 111 years ago… Titanic sinks

The RMS Titanic passenger liner sinks on its maiden voyage after hitting an iceberg with the death of more than 1500 of those aboard.

❑ 158 years ago… Abraham Lincoln dies

Days after achieving victory in the American Civil War the US President (left) dies aged 56, the day after being shot at a theatre by John Wilkes Booth.

❑ 268 years ago… Dictionary debut

After seven years of research Dr Samuel Johnson publishes his pioneering work A Dictionary Of The English Language.

❑ 571 years ago… Da Vinci born

Leonardo Da Vinci, who would become famous for the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, is born in Florence, Italy.