ON THIS DAY
1776: George Washington’s army crosses the Delaware River during the American Revolution.
1888: JT Williams makes first parachute descent in Australia, jumping from a balloon over Sydney.
1914: British destroy German naval squadron off Falkland Islands.
1925: Adolf Hitler’s book Mein Kampf published.
1941: The US, Britain and Australia all declare war on Japan; Japan invades Thailand and Malaya.
1974: Greece votes to become a republic and eliminate the monarchy.
1980: Former Beatle John Lennon shot dead by a demented fan in New York.
1981: The ACTU ends a two-year-old ban on export of uranium from Australia.
Birthdays: Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-1587); US entertainer Sammy Davis Jnr (1925-1990); Australian country musician James Blundell (1964); US rapper Nicki Minaj (1982-).