ON THIS DAY JUNE 15

1215 The Magna Carta (Great Charter) is signed at “the birthplace of modern democracy”, – Runymede, England – by King John. It is one of the most important documents in history as it established the principle that everyone is subject to the law, including the king, and guarantees the rights of individuals; the right to justice; the right to a fair trial; trial by a jury of one’s peers and the idea that justice should not be sold or unnecessarily delayed.

1667 The first fully documented human blood transfusion is performed by Dr Jean-Baptiste Denys, when a small amount of sheep’s blood is given to a 15-year-old boy, who lives.

1752 Benjamin Franklin proves that lightning is electricity.

1785 Two French balloonists die in the world’s first fatal aviation accident.

1844 Charles Goodyear receives a patent for vulcanisation, a process to strengthen rubber. 1864 Land around Confederate rebel General Robert E Lee’s home in Arlington, Virginia, is turned into a national military cemetery.

1896 Tsunami kills 22 000 people in Japan. 1901 SA Constabulary Sergeant J Rogers earns a Victoria Cross near Thaba Nchu.

1904 A fire on the steamboat SS General Slocum in New York kills 1 000 people.

1924 J Edgar Hoover takes over the FBI, and leads it for 37 years until his death. He largely made the bureau what it is today.

1974 Defence Minister PW Botha says the defence force has taken over from the police in protecting the country’s northern borders. 1986 The USSR’s Pravda information service says high-level Chernobyl staff have been ‘fired for stupidity’ after a nuclear meltdown. 1991 Mount Pinatubo erupts in the second largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century.

Nik Wallenda becomes the first to tightrope walk over Niagara Falls.