ON THIS DAY
1649
King Charles I is beheaded for treason and other crimes against the realm of England.
1797
Congress refuses to accept the first recorded petitions from AfricanAmericans, protesting that former slaves could be sold back into slavery.
1835
The first attempt to assassinate a US president fails. Madman Richard Lawrence’s two pistols misfire in damp weather when the unemployed house painter points them at Andrew Jackson in Washington.
1884
A cyclone hits the north Queensland town of Bowen and districts, causing severe flooding.
1913
The House of Lords rejects by 326-69 the British Liberal government’s Irish Home Rule Bill, sinking hopes of peace in that country.
1930
Adventurer Francis Chichester flies into Sydney in a DH60G Moth, Madam Elijah. He was flying solo in a vain attempt to break Bert Hinkler’s time record.
1942
Australia’s “Gull Force’’, with about 2600 Netherlands East Indies troops, fight in defence of Ambon but cannot defeat the Japanese invasion of the island.
1948
Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi (pictured), considered the father of his country and internationally esteemed for his doctrine of non-violent protest to achieve political and social progress, is assassinated.
1966
Prince Charles arrives in Australia to attend Geelong’s Timbertop school.
1969
The Beatles give what will be their final public performance, on the roof of Apple Records in London. 1972
The British army opens fire on civilrights protesters in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, killing 13 people.
2004
The federal Labor opposition announces Wilton, 65km south of Sydney, as its preferred site for a second Sydney airport.