Tag: This Day in History
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This day in history | 1964 Three civil rights activists found dead
The bodies of three civil rights workers missing for six weeks have been found buried in a partially constructed dam near Philadelphia, Mississippi. Agents from the ... -
This day in history | 1990 UK temperatures reach record high
A weather station in Leicestershire has recorded the highest temperature ever known in Britain. The figure of 37.1C, or 99F, recorded at a weather station in ... -
This day in history | 1984 Euro Court condemns phone-tapping
A Surrey businessman who accused the police of illegally tapping his phone is celebrating after a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights. James Malone, ... -
This day in history | 1973 Final deal for thalidomide victims
The drugs company who marketed thalidomide have agreed to pay more than £20 million in compensation to those born with birth defects as a result, at ... -
This day in history | 1981 Charles and Diana marry
Crowds of 600,000 people filled the streets of London to catch a glimpse of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer on their wedding day. The couple ... -
This day in history | 1976 Chinese earthquake kills hundreds of thousands
Hundreds of thousands of people are feared dead following an 8.3 magnitude earthquake in China. The quake has virtually destroyed the city of Tangshan, north-east of ... -
This day in history | 1996 Bomb rocks Atlanta Olympics
A bomb has exploded at a crowded concert in Atlanta, Georgia, the city hosting this year’s Olympic Games. Two people are reported to have been killed ... -
This day in history | 1986 Branson on course for Blue Riband
Entrepreneur Richard Branson has set off on his second attempt to claim the transatlantic crossing record for Britain. Mr Branson and his team left New York ... -
This day in history | 1986 Prince Andrew weds Sarah Ferguson
Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson have married at Westminster Abbey. Thousands of people lined the streets of London and a worldwide TV audience of 500 million ... -
This day in history | 1977 Deng Xiaoping back in power
The disgraced deputy Prime Minister of China, Deng Xiaoping, is to return to Chinese Government. The Chinese Communist Party conference has restored him to the offices ... -
This day in history | 1969 Man takes first steps on the Moon
American Neil Armstrong has become the first man to walk on the Moon. The astronaut stepped onto the Moon’s surface, in the Sea of Tranquility, at ... -
This day in history | 1944 Hitler survives assassination attempt
Adolf Hitler has escaped death after a bomb exploded at 1242 local time at his headquarters in Rastenberg, East Prussia. The German News Agency broke the ... -
This day in history | 1983 Flesh-eating dinosaur resurrected
Group leader and head of the Dinosaur Department at the Natural History Museum Dr Alan Charig explained: “It is a totally new species of dinosaur. Even ... -
This day in history | 1969 Apollo 11 takes off for the Moon
The Apollo 11 space rocket has taken off successfully from Cape Kennedy, Florida, at the start of the first attempt to land a man on the ... -
This day in history | 1997 Versace murdered on his doorstep
Italian fashion designer Gianni Versace has been shot dead on the steps of his Miami mansion. The incident happened shortly before 0900 local time (1400 GMT) ... -
This day in history | 1991: UK forces withdraw from Kurdish haven
British troops protecting the Kurdish population in Iraq have begun to pull out of the region. They had been part of a western relief effort – ... -
This day in history | 1993 Green light for Manchester Olympics
Officials in Manchester bidding to hold the 2000 Olympic Games have been told their chances are “very, very high”. The President of the International Olympic Committee, ... -
This day in history | 990 Yeltsin resignation splits Soviet Communists
The populist politician and president of the Russian parliament, Boris Yeltsin, has resigned from the Soviet Communist Party. The resignation has also led to a declaration ... -
This day in history | 2001 Scientists discover why we are here
A Californian University has thrown more light on why the Big Bang works after nearly 40 years of world-wide research. Most scientists accept that the universe ... -
This day in history | 2003 Conjoined twins die in separation op
Conjoined Iranian twins who volunteered to go ahead with a major operation to separate them have both died during surgery. Laleh and Ladan Bijani suffered a ... -
This day in history | 2005 Bomb attacks on London
A series of bomb attacks on London’s transport network has killed more than 30 people and injured about 700 others. Three explosions on the Underground left ... -
This day in history | 2005 Bomb attacks on London
A series of bomb attacks on London’s transport network has killed more than 30 people and injured about 700 others. Three explosions on the Underground left ... -
This day in history | 1954 BBC launches daily TV news
The BBC has broadcast its first daily television news programme. The 20-minute bulletin was introduced by Richard Baker as an “Illustrated summary of the news… Followed ... -
This day in history | 1992 IRA murders ‘informers’
The IRA has admitted killing the three men found by the army at different roadsides in South Armagh last night. They claim the men were informers ... -
This day in history | 1997 Hong Kong handed over to Chinese control
Hong Kong has been handed back to the Chinese authorities – ending more than 150 years of British control. The British flag was lowered over Government ... -
This day in history | 1971 Space mission ends in tragedy
Three Russian cosmonauts have been found dead in their space capsule after it made what looked like a perfect landing in Kazakhstan. Lieutenant-Colonel Georgi Dobrovolsky, Vladislav ... -
This day in history | 2001 Diana fountain given go-ahead
A memorial in honour of Diana, Princess of Wales, is to be built in London’s Hyde Park, the government has announced. The £3m fountain will be ... -
This day in history | 2004 US transfers power back to Iraq
The United States has handed power back to the Iraqi people at a low-key ceremony in Baghdad. US administrator Paul Bremer transferred sovereignty to an Iraqi ... -
This day in history | 1970 New peace plan for Middle East
The United States has launched its latest plan to bring peace to the Middle East. US Secretary of State William Rogers announced his initiative to encourage ... -
This day in history | 1983 US astronaut Sally Ride returns
America’s first woman in space has returned safely to Earth in the Challenger space shuttle after a successful six-day flight. Sally Ride, aged 32, captured the ... -
This day in history | 1972 Chancellor orders pound flotation
The Chancellor, Anthony Barber, has announced his decision to temporarily float the pound. The news comes only a day after the bank lending rate was increased ... -
This day in history | 1981 Chapman pleads guilty to Lennon murder
A man has pleaded guilty to shooting dead former Beatle John Lennon in New York. The court heard Mark Chapman dramatically change his plea to admit ... -
This day in history | 1983 Filipino opposition leader shot dead
The Philippines opposition leader, Benigno Aquino, has been assassinated just minutes after returning home from exile. Mr Aquino, 50, had spent the last three years in ... -
This day in history | 1972 UK’s worst air crash kills 118
All 118 people on board a flight from London Heathrow to Brussels have died when the airliner crashed minutes after take-off. The British European Airways plane ... -
This day in history | 1974 IRA bombs parliament
A bomb has exploded at the Houses of Parliament, causing extensive damage and injuring 11 people. The IRA said it planted the 20 lb (9.1 kg) ...
