ON THIS DAY
1587: Sir Francis Drake sailed into Cadiz harbour and sank the Spanish fleet – an action known as “singeing the King of Spain’s beard”.
1775: In Lexington, the opening shot was fired – by a British general – in the American War of Independence. This was the shot “heard around the world”.
1824: Poet Lord Byron died of a fever at Missolonghi while aiding Greek insurgents against the Turks in their fight for independence. He was 36.
1882: Death of biologist Charles Darwin, whose theory of evolution revolutionised scientific thinking.
1906: Pierre Curie, French physicist who worked with his wife on magnetism and radioactivity and who discovered radium, was killed in a carriage accident in Paris.
1927: Mae West was found guilty of indecent behaviour in her Broadway production of Sex. She was sentenced to 10 days in prison and fined US$500.
1956: Prince Rainier III of Monaco married actress Grace Kelly.
1958: Footballer Bobby Charlton made the first of 106 appearances for England. In the match, against Scotland, he scored the first of his record 1987: a Ullman short 49 cartoon Show. The international Simpsons on the premieres Tracy goals. as
1995: Nichols Timothy carried out McVeigh a bomb and attack Terry on Oklahoma City, USA killing 168 people.
2005: Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected as the successor to Pope John Paul II The new Pope took the name Pope Benedict XVI.
2011: Fidel Castro resigned from the Cuban Communist Party and stepped down as party leader after 45 years of holding the title. BIRTHDAYS: Alan Price, musician, 79; Tim Curry, actor, 75; Ruby Wax, comedienne, 68; Trevor Francis, former footballer and manager, 67; Sue Barker, sports broadcaster, 65; Ashley Judd, actress, 53; Jason Gillespie, former cricketer, 46; Kate Hudson, actress, 42; Hayden Christensen, actor, 40; Kelly Holmes, former Olympic athlete, 51; Maria Sharapova, tennis player, 34.