1914 The Great War erupts
World War I begins with Germany's invasion of
Luxembourg. The same day, Germany and Russia declare war against each other, and France mobilizes. At the end of July, Europe's tenuous peace collapsed when Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. By August 5, Russia,
France, Belgium, Great
Britain, and Serbia had all lined up against Austria-Hungary and Germany. One month later, the bloody Battle of the Marne was fought outside
Paris, halting Germany's advance to the sea and effectively deciding the future course of the war. World War I would be a terrible war of attrition, won by whichever side was willing to commit the greater number of men and resources to the lethal trenches.
1976
Trinidad & Tobago become an independent republic within the British Commonwealth.1975
In
Britain, cigarette advertising is banned on television.
1969
The unmanned US spacecraft Mariner begins beaming pictures of the surface of
Mars back to Earth.
1963
Britain announces that the Island of
Malta in the Mediteranean will gain its' independence in May 1964.
1962
Ghana President
Kwame Nkrumah escapes as assassination attempt when a hand
grenade explodes nearby.
1961
Comic strip hero
Spiderman makes his debut.
1944
World War II: Start of the Warsaw uprising in
Poland against the
German occupation forces. It lasts 63 days before forced to surrender. Many of the leaders are either shot or sent to concentration camps.
1939
American band leader Glenn Miller records 'In The Mood' which later becomes his theme tune. 1936
German Fuhrer Adolf
Hitler opens the 11th Olympic Games in
Berlin. 1934
In
Germany, Adolf Hitler becomes Reichfurhrer following the death of President Hindenberg.
1914
Ahead of the outbreak of
World War I, Germany declares war on Russia.
1876
Colorado becomes the 38th state of the United States.1873
World's first cable car system opens in San Francisco, California, USA.1834
British Empire abolishes
slavery. An estimated 750,000 slaves are freed.
1831
Opening of new
London Bridge (now sold ,dismantled and transported to Arizona, USA ) over the River Thames by King
William IV. 1798
A British fleet, commanded by Lord
Horatio Nelson, defeats the French fleet at
Aboukir Bay in the Battle of the Nile - stopping
Napoleon Bonaparte's plans to invade the Middle East.
1793
France becomes the first country to introduce a metric system for weights and measures - as part of French Revolutionary ideals of change. 1774
English chemist and Presbyterian Minister Joseph Priestley identifies a new gas- calling its a 'new species of air' - later called oxygen.1714
Elector of Hanover, George Louis, is named King
George I of
Great Britain following the death of Queen Anne in line with the Act of Settlement signed in 1701.
1492
Explorer
Christopher Columbus reaches the American mainland and names it Santa Isla, believing it to be an island.
1936
French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent born in
Algeria - real name Henri Donat Mathieu.
1930
English composer Lionel Bart1921
American tennis player Jack Kramer.1779
American poet and
lawyer Francis Scott Key. Author of the 'Star-Spangled Banner'.
10BC
Roman Emperor Claudius. Proclaimed Emperor in AD41 following the murder of
Caligula. 1999
Indian author Nirad Chaudhuri aged 101. Best-known work is 'The Autobiography of an Unknown Indian (1951).1998
Hungarian-born actress Eva Bartok.1997
Russian pianist Svyatoslav Richter dies of a heart attack aged 82.1973
Walter Ulbricht, leader of the
German Communist Party.
