1952: Military seizes power in Egypt
In
Egypt, the Society of Free Officers seizes control of the government in a military coup d'etat. King Faruk, whose rule had been criticized for its corruption and failures in the first Arab-Israeli war, was forced to abdicate and give up power to General Muhammad Naguib, leader of the coup. The revolutionaries redistributed land, tried politicians for corruption, and abolished the monarchy in 1953. Colonel Gamal Abdal Nasser soon challenged Naguib’s rule, however, because he believed reforms were moving too slowly. In 1954, Nasser took over as acting head of state and in 1956 was elected, unopposed, to the Egyptian presidency. He died in office in 1970 from a heart attack.
1997
The Swiss Bankers' Association issues a list of unclaimed accounts dating back to the 1930s - many belonging to Jews killed by the Nazis in
Germany during
World War II. 1997
Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic is sworn in as President of
Yugoslavia. 1986
Queen Elizabeth II's son, Prince Andrew, marries Sarah Ferguson at Westminister Abbey in London. They become the Duke and Duchess of York following the 600 year old tradition for naming the second son of the reigning monarch.1982
The International Whaling Commission votes for a total ban on commercial whaling from 1985.1955
British speed enthusiast Donald
Campbell breaks the world water speed record on Ullswater in the Lake District, England when he reaches 202.32mph in his craft 'Bluebird'
1952
King
Farouk of Egypt is deposed by a military coup led by General Neguib
1951
French Army Marshal Philippe Petain dies in prison. Was sentenced to life imprisonment at the end of World War II for being head of the
Vichy Government in
France which collaborated with the Germans following the invasion in 1940.
1904
American Charles Menches patents the ice-cream cone in Missouri, USA.1759
Russian troops defeat the Prussians in the Battle of Kay, in Eastern Germany during the
Seven Years' War. 1745
Scotland's Charles
Stuart, the 'Young Pretender', lands in the Hebrides islands.
1403
In England, the Battle of Shrewsbury.776BC
Officially recorded date of the first Olympic Games at
Olympia, Greece.
1942
Moors murderer Myra Hyndley.1927
English entertainer Danny la Rue.1913
British politician Michael Foot. Leader of the
Labour Party 1980-1983.
1907
English novelist Elspeth Huxley is born in
Kenya. Her best-known novel - 'The Flame Trees of Thika' (1959).
1891
Emperor Haile Selassie of
Ethiopia is born Prince Ras Tafari. Becomes Emperor in 1930. Dies in 1975.
1888
Crime novelist Raymond Chandler, creator of the fictional detective 'Philip Marlowe', is born in Chicago, USA. 1886
British aviator Arthur Whitten Brown. Partnered by
John Alcock, makes the first trans-Atlantic flight in 1919.
1999
King Hassan of
Morocco dies of a heart attack after 38 years in power.
1967
British cyclist Tommy Simpson dies during a mountain stage of the Tour De
France aged 29.
1948
American film producer D.W.Griffith.1916
Scottish chemist and Nobel Prize winner Sir William Ramsey. Discovered inert gases such as helium and argon.1885
American soldier and US President
Ulysses Simpson Grant.
1875
American inventor
Isaac Merritt Singer - developed the first practical
sewing machine in 1851.
