This Day In History
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1975 Franco’s 36-year reign ends
General Franco’s dictatorship has effectively ended with the announcement heir designate Prince Juan Carlos will take over as provisional head of state for Spain. ... -
1979 Chairman Hua arrives in London
The first Chinese leader to visit Britain, Chairman Hua Kuo-Feng, has arrived in London at the start of a six-day visit. He was welcomed ... -
1978 Gunman runs amok in West Midlands
Four people have been killed and four others seriously wounded after a gunman opened fire at two separate locations in the Midlands. The attacks ... -
2003 End of an era for Concorde
The legendary supersonic aircraft, Concorde, has landed at the end of its last commercial passenger flight, amid emotional scenes at Heathrow airport. The final ... -
1956 Hungarians rise up against Soviet rule
Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets in Hungary to demand an end to Soviet rule. There are believed to have ... -
1966 Double-agent breaks out of jail
One of Britain’s most notorious double-agents, George Blake, has escaped from prison in London after a daring break-out believed to have been masterminded by ... -
2001 Anthrax claims third victim in US
A third person has been diagnosed in the US with the most serious form of anthrax. The unnamed Washington postal worker is being treated ... -
1980 Pope welcomes Queen to the Vatican
The Queen has made history after becoming the first British monarch to make a state visit to the Vatican. Pope welcomed Her Majesty and ... -
1996 Handguns to be banned in the UK
The British Government has announced plans to outlaw almost all handguns following the shocking massacre at Dunblane in Scotland. On 13 March Thomas Hamilton ... -
1969 Millions march in US Vietnam Moratorium
Americans have taken part in peace initiatives across the United States to protest against the continuing war in Vietnam. The Peace Moratorium is believed ... -
1994 Israelis and Arafat share peace prize
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, and two Israelis, the Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, have been named the winners of this ... -
1976 Bolivian plane crashes in Santa Cruz
A chartered cargo plane has killed at least 100 people after it smashed into a busy street in Santa Cruz, a city in the ... -
1970 Canadian minister seized by gunmen
Quebec’s Labour and Immigration Minister, Pierre Laporte, has been kidnapped. He was seized from his home in Montreal by two men armed with machineguns. ... -
1967 Che Guevara ‘shot dead’
Marxist revolutionary Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara has reportedly been killed during a battle between army troops and guerillas in the Bolivian jungle. A statement issued ... -
1985 Gunmen hijack Italian cruise liner
Palestinian militants have hijacked an Italian cruise liner, the Achille Lauro, in the Mediterranean and threatened to blow it up. The gunmen are demanding ... -
1981 Egypt’s President Sadat assassinated
President Sadat of Egypt has died after being shot by gunmen who opened fire as he watched an aerial display at a military parade. ... -
1975 Muhammad Ali wins ‘Thrilla in Manila’
US boxer Muhammad Ali has retained the world heavyweight boxing championship after defeating his arch-rival, Joe Frazier, in their third and arguably greatest fight. ... -
1955 James Dean killed in car smash
The Hollywood film star James Dean has been killed in a road accident in California, USA. The 24-year-old actor was behind the wheel of ... -
1997 Scientists confirm brain diseases link
British scientists have said they have established a link between a human brain disease and one found in cows. Two papers have concluded they ... -
1984 UK and China agree Hong Kong handover
Britain and China have finalised an agreement which will end more than 150 years of UK rule in Hong Kong. The proposal – which ... -
1952 Charlie Chaplin comes home
World famous film actor and director Charlie Chaplin has returned to England for the first time in 21 years. He arrived with his wife ... -
1980 War breaks out between Iran and Iraq
Three weeks of border clashes between Iran and Iraq appear to have finally erupted into all-out war. Iraq has bombed several Iranian air and ... -
1972 Parcel bomb attack on Israeli embassy
A diplomat at the Israeli embassy in London has been killed by a letter bomb. Dr Ami Sachori received severe chest and stomach injuries ... -
1993 Shock as racist wins council seat
The British National Party has won its first council seat in a by-election in East London, provoking fear in the local Asian community. Unemployed ... -
1986 Kinross Miners ‘killed where they stood’
At least 177 people have died during a lethal fire in a South African gold mine. Poisonous gas spread rapidly through the shafts and ... -
1987 Fiji one step closer to a republic
The Queen has accepted the resignation of the Governor-General of Fiji at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference in Vancouver. Governor-General Ratu Sir Penaia ... -
1977 Steve Biko dies in custody
The leader of the black consciousness movement in South Africa, Steve Biko, has died in police custody. The 30-year-old’s death was confirmed by the ... -
2001 US rocked by day of terror
The United States is in a state of shock after a day of attacks which have left thousands dead and New York’s World Trade ... -
1963 American Express comes to Britain
American Express, one of the world’s largest banking houses, has opened a credit card service in Britain. Holders of the cards will be able ... -
1976 Chairman Mao Zedong dies
The chief architect of the Chinese revolution, Chairman Mao Zedong, has died at the age of 82. His death – at 10 minutes past ... -
1997 Mother Teresa dies
Mother Teresa, the Nobel Peace Prize winner who devoted her life to helping the sick and the poor, has died at the age of ... -
1957 Homosexuality ‘should not be a crime’
A report sponsored by the government has suggested homosexual behaviour between consenting adults should no longer be a criminal offence. The proposal is the ... -
1954 National Trust buys remote island
The National Trust for Scotland has taken control of Fair Isle, famous for its bird life and knitted sweaters. The remote island situated between ... -
1951 Designers prepare to dazzle Venice
British fashion designers have revealed the collection they plan to send to Venice later this week as part of the city’s Biennale arts festival. ... -
1997 Diana driver was ‘drunk and speeding’
The driver of the car in which Princess Diana was fatally injured had criminal levels of alcohol in his blood and may have been ...
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