ON THIS DAY
Sir Thomas Herriot introduces potatoes to England from Colombia.
Astronomer Anders Celsius takes measurements that confirm Newton’s theory that the earth was an ellipsoid rather than the previously accepted sphere.
Polish novelist Joseph Conrad is born in the Ukraine (as Josef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski). Although he could speak no English at age 20, he went on to become an outstanding novelist, best known for his tales of seafaring life, including Heart of Darkness and Lord Jim.
Explorer Henry Morton Stanley founds Leopoldville (now Kinshasa).
Modern neon lighting is first demonstrated at the Paris Motor Show.
The costly Battle of Monte Cassino – one of the fiercest of World War II – begins. South Africans are involved.
Britain’s Home Guard (aka Dad’s Army) is officially stood down at a special farewell parade.
At Cape Town’s Groote Schuur Hospital, a transplant team led by Christiaan Barnard carries out the first successful heart transplant on a human (Louis Washkansky, 53). He dies of pneumonia 18 days later.
Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu – the current Zulu monach – is installed as the eighth king of the Zulus at a traditional ceremony at Nongoma, attended by 20 000 people.
Christie’s auctions a thimble for a record $18 400.
A deadly gas leak at a Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, India, killed at least 3 000 persons and injured more than 200 000. It is one of history’s worst industrial disasters.
Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev and US President George HW Bush declare the Cold War over.
English wicket-keeper Jack Russell takes a record 11 catches in a cricket Test against South Africa.
The Greek oil tanker Aegean Sea runs aground off Spain, spilling much of its cargo of 80 000 tons of crude.
Britain’s Princess Diana announces she is stepping out of the public spotlight, desiring more privacy amid unyielding attention from the tabloid press and paparazzi.
The Japanese space agency launches a space explorer on a six-year mission to an asteroid to collect rock samples.
First pizza party in space held by astronauts of the International Space Station.