TODAY IN HISTORY

537

The Ostrogoth armies begin their siege of Rome. It will last more than a year and end with an armistice. 1498

Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama and his fleet reach the island of Mozambique on their first voyage to India

1791

French inventor Claude Chappe unveils his “optical telegraph”, a series of semaphore machines running from Brulon to Parce.

1807

US president Thomas Jefferson signs into law a Bill to ban the bringing of slaves into the country

1933

Motion picture King Kong, starring Fay Wray, has its world premiere in New York

1935

A shark attacks Robert McFarlane, 22, of Rozelle, while he is surfing at North Narrabeen at dusk. Three lifesavers go to his aid but he dies soon after being dragged from the water

1944

A Japanese firing squad executes Australian Captain Lionel Matthews, 31, for running an intelligence ring from inside Sandakan POW camp. He posthumously wins the George Cross.

1987

At the first ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) awards, singer John Farnham wins six honours, including single of the year for You’re The Voice, as Elton John plays host in Sydney

2018

Gunmen attack the French embassy and the French army HQ in suspected terrorist incident in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, killing 8 and injuring 80.

2019

Racehorse Winx wins the Chipping Norton Stakes at Royal Randwick setting a world record of 23 group 1 wins. It is the horse’s 31st consecutive win.