Today in History

1298 – William Wallace, who led Scottish resistance against English rule, is decisively defeated by Edward I’s forces at the Battle of Falkirk.

1620 – Exiled British pilgrims set out from Holland for the New World on their ship Speedwell, which leaks so badly they return to England and transfer to the Mayflower.

1933 – US aviator Wiley Post completes the first solo flight around the world in seven days, 18 hours and 49 minutes.

1976 – Japan completes its World War II reparations, with a final payment to the Philippines.

1981 – Supporters and opponents of the Springbok tour clash in Gisborne, as the first match is played. The South Africans beat Poverty Bay 24-6.

1987 – Long queues form as tickets go on sale for New Zealand’s first Lotto draw, left.

1991 – Cannibal and serial killer

Jeffrey Dahmer is caught in Milwaukee.

2001 – Divers begin preparations for raising the Russian nuclear submarine Kursk, which sank in August 2000 during a training exercise, killing all 118 crew.

2003 – Qusay and Uday Hussein, sons of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, are killed in a firefight with US forces in Mosul.

2011 – Twin terror attacks rock Norway: a bomb blast targeting government buildings in central Oslo, and a massacre at a youth camp on the island of Utoya.

Birthdays

Oscar de la Renta, Dominican fashion designer (1932-2014); Sir Anand Satyanand, NZ governorgeneral (1944-); Danny Glover, US actor (1946-); Don Henley, US musician (1947-); Willem Dafoe, US actor (1955-); Rena Owen, NZ actress (1962-); Scott Dixon, NZ motor racer (1980-); Israel Adesanya, NZ mixed martial artist (1989-); Trent Boult, NZ cricketer (1989-); Prince George, UK royal (2013-).