79 A.D: Vesuvius erupts
Mount Vesuvius erupts near
Pompeii in southern
Italy. Although roughly half the citizens of Pompeii escaped toward the sea, more than 2,000 people were buried under seven feet of molten lava, ash, and pumice. Around 1,700 years later, the
excavation of Pompeii presented a picture of the everyday life of an ancient civilization, startlingly preserved in sudden death. Excavation, which began in 1748, continues today. Mount Vesuvius is the only active volcano on the European mainland.
1998
Britain, the United States and the Netherlands agree to put two Libyans on trial for planting the bomb which blew up a Pan Am airliner over the town of Lockerbie, Scotland killing all those on board and several on the ground.1990
Irishman Brian Keenan is released by his Islamic kidnappers in Beirut after spending 52 months in captivity.1986
Irish musician Bob Geldof marries Paula Yates.1981
American Mark Chapman is given a 20 year life sentence for shooting John Lennon - the former member of the British group, The Beatles - in New York.1975
Death sentences imposed on former
Greek Prime Minister Georgios Papadopoulos and two other leaders of the 1967 coup, are commuted to life imprisonment.
1968
France becomes the world's fifth nuclear power when it successfully explodes a
hydrogen bomb near Fugataufa Atoll in the Pacific Ocean.
1965
450,000 year old body of man is found in a
Hungarian limestone quarry.
1954
The
United States of America outlaws membership of the Communist Party with the Communist Control Act - signed by US President Dwight Eisenhower.
1951
The start of the Mau-Mau rebellion against British rule in
Kenya. 1875
British Merchant Navy captain Matthew
Webb becomes first man to swim the English Channel in 21 hours 45 minutes.
1814
British troops led by General Ross invade the city of Washington and set fire to buildings in the capital, including the
White House and the Capitol.
1572
The St Bartholomew's Day massacre in
Paris after
Charles IX orders the killing of thousands of French Huguenots. An estimate 70,000 are put to deaththroughout
France. 79A
An eruption from Mount Vesuvius destroys the Roman cities of
Pompeii and
Herculaneum killing at least 2,000. The hot volcanic ash helps preserve both bodies and buildings for hundreds of years.
79A
An eruption from Mount Vesuvius destroys the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum killing at least 2,000. The hot volcanic ash helps preserve both bodies and buildings for hundreds of years. 1995
Life Magazine photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt. 1958
South African Prime Minister Johannes Strijdom dies in office.1954
Getulio Vargas, President of
Brazil 1930-1945 and 1951-1954 comits suicide.
