1980: John Lennon shot dead
Musician John Lennon is shot and killed by an obsessed fan in New York City. The British star, formerly of the rock group The Beatles, had once caused outrage when he declared that the Beatles were more popular than
Jesus. Love and peace were Lennon’s central themes; he found love when he married singer Yoko Ono, but peace was shattered on 8th December 1980, when he was shot outside his apartment building in New York City. He died on the way to the hospital. His assailant, Mark David Chapman, was convicted of murder and sent to jail. Bereaved fans kept vigil in front of the entrance to his home for an entire week.
2003
In
Greece, 15 members of the left-wing terrorist organisation ‘November 17’ are convicted of various offences by a court in Athens. The group were responsible for the assassination of Brigadier Stephen Saunders the British defence attaché to Greece in June 2000.
1995
In England, headmaster Philip Lawrence is stabbed to death outside his school in London school whilst trying to protect a pupil who was being assaulted.
1987
U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet
premier Mikhail Gorbachev sign the
Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty in Washington DC. It’s the first nuclear arms reduction agreement either country had signed.
1983
In
Britain, the
House of Lords votes to allow television cameras into the chamber to broadcast live sessions from the house.
1976
American rock band, the Eagles, release their classic album ‘Hotel California’.
1965
A new Race Relations Act comes into force in Britain making it illegal for racial discrimination to take place in public places.
1949
In the wake of the success of Mao Zedong’s communist forces, Chinese Nationalist leaders depart for the island of
Taiwan, where they establish their new capital in Taipei.
1941
The Second World War: The Battle of
Hong Kong begins as
Japan invades the British colony.
1941
The Second World War: Britain,
Australia and the
United States of America declare war on Japan following the surprise attack on the American Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbour, Hawaii, the day before.
1914
The Second World War: The start of the Battle of the Falkland Islands in the south Atlantic between Britain and
Germany. 1907
Gustavus V becomes King of Sweden following the death of Oskar II.
1881
620 people are killed and hundreds more are injured as a fire breaks out at the Ring Theater in
Austria, Vienna.
1864
The Clifton Suspension Bridge over the River Avon at Bristol, England is officially opened. The
bridge was designed by English civil engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
1941
England international footballer Geoff Hurst - scorer of a hat-trick for England against West Germany in the 1966 World Cup final at Wembley Stadium.1939
Musician James Galway.1925
American entertainer Sammy Davis Jnr.1848
American writer
Joel Chandler Harris - author of 'Uncle Remus'.
