ON THIS DAY

1760:

The first hanging took place at Tyburn in London. Earl Ferrers was executed for murdering his valet.

1818:

Father of Communism Karl Heinrich Marx was born in Trier, Germany, the son of a Jewish lawyer.

1821:

Napoleon Bonaparte died in exile on the island of St Helena.

1904:

Sir Gordon Richards, English jockey, was born. He was champion jockey 26 times.

1930:

Amy Johnson left Croydon in Gypsy Moth “Jason” to become the first female to fly solo to Australia, arriving on May 24.

1941:

Emperor Haile Selaisse returned to Ethiopia from exile in England after liberation of his country by British forces.

1961:

Commander Alan Shepard returned to Earth after becoming the first American in space.