ON THIS DAY

1862:

A bill ending slavery in the US District of Columbia becomes law.

The passenger luxury liner RMS Titanic sinks in the North Atlantic, with the loss of more than 1500 lives.

Insulin, discovered by Canadian Dr Frederick Banting, is made available for general use by diabetics.

The first Australian production of The Rocky Horror Show opens in Sydney, starring Reg Livermore.

Two blasts near the finish line of the Boston Marathon kill three people and wound more than 100.

Leonardo da Vinci, Italian painter, engineer, sculptor and architect (1452-1519); Emma Thompson, British actress (1959-); Lee Kernaghan, Australian country singer (1964-); Emma Watson, British actress (1990-).

1912: 1923: 1974: 2013: Birthdays: