TODAY in HISTORY

Today is Wednesday, September 3, the 246th day of 2014. There are 119 days left in the year.

1189

England’s King Richard I is crowned in Westminster.

1497

Manuel, King of Portugal, marries Isabella of Spain. One of the conditions for the marriage is that he expel all Jews from Portugal.

1603

France’s King Henry IV permits Jesuits to return to France despite opposition.

1609

English navigator Henry Hudson, looking for a passage to India on behalf of the Dutch West India Company, discovers Manhattan.

1758

Revolution in Portugal is led by Marquis of Tavora and his wife, who wound King Joseph, but subsequently are arrested.

1783

Britain, France, Spain and United States sign peace treaty of Versailles, officially ending Revolutionary War.

1791

French Constitution is passed by National Assembly, making France a constitutional monarchy.

1879

Afghans massacre British legation at Kabul, leading to British occupation of the city.

1904

Japan defeats Russian forces at Liaoyang in China.

1913

City of Nanking falls to Chinese revolutionary forces under Yuan Shih- kai.

1916

The first German Zeppelin bomber is shot down over England.

1939

Britain, France, New Zealand and Australia declare war on Germany; Germans sink passenger liner Athenia off Ireland, killing 112 people.

1943

The British 8th Army invades Italy during World War II, the same day Italy signs a secret armistice with the Allies.

1945

Singapore is returned to British control after being occupied by the Japanese since 1942.

1950

Several Viet Minh terrorists assigned to kill US minister to Indochina Donald R. Heath are arrested.

1957

Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser begins talks in Cairo on proposed negotiations for international control of the Suez Canal.

1962

Katanga government accepts UN Secretary- General U Thant’s plan for Congolese reunification.

1967

Nguyen Van Thieu is elected President of South Vietnam under a new Constitution.

1976

US Viking II spacecraft lands on Mars.