On this day

1671: Irish adventurer Captain Thomas Blood made an unsuccessful attempt to steal the Crown Jewels from the Tower Of London.

1800: John Brown, US abolitionist, was born.

1860: JM Barrie, Scottish playwright and author of Peter Pan, was born in Kirriemuir, Angus. 1955: West Germany joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato).

1971: American Elizabeth Bonner ran the female world record marathon in a time of 3:01:42 in Philadelphia.

1972: Twelve Israeli soldiers disguised as maintenance staff stormed a hijacked Sabena Boeing at Lod airport in Tel Aviv and released the 100 people on board.

1978: The body of former Italian prime minister Aldo Moro was found in the boot of a car in central Rome, a victim of the Red Brigade.

1988: Australia’s new parliament house was opened by the Queen in Canberra.

1994: Mass murderer Joel Rifkind was found guilty in New York City of killing nine women between 1989 and 1993.

2012: United States President Barack Obama officially stated his support for same sex marriage.

ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: US fast-food giant Wendy’s announced it would be returning to the UK after a 20-year hiatus.