On this date:

In 1857, Delhi, India, fell to the British after a long siege.

In 1867, the rst general election in Canada, won by the Conservatives under Sir John A. Macdonald, was completed. Confederation, achieved earlier in the year, had set out the mandate for the formation of a federal government to unite the four provinces in the Dominion at the time. Macdonald formed a coalition cabinet almost equally split between Liberal and Conservative ministers and representing di erent regions, religions and cultures.

In 1873, the New York Stock Exchange was forced to close for the rst time because of a banking crisis.

In 1917, the Wartime Elections Act was passed, giving the vote to some Canadian women and disenfranchising many citizens born in enemy countries. The act gave wives, mothers and sisters of men in the armed service the right to vote. In May 1918, all women gained the vote.

In 1931, sterling was taken o the gold standard index.

In 1932, Indian leader Mohandas Gandhi began a fast to dramatize his campaign for an end to discrimination against the lowest social class in India, known as the untouchables. Gandhi’s fast ended six days later when the ``Pact of Poona’’ was passed, allowing the untouchables entrance to all temples and schools and the use of all Indian roads.