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25th March

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1975: King Faisal assassinated


In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, King Faisal is shot to death by his nephew, Prince Faisal. King Faisal, son of King Ibn Saud, fought in the military campaigns in the 1920s and '30s that helped forge modern Saudi Arabia. He later served as Saudi ambassador to the United Nations and in 1953 was made premier upon the ascension of his older brother, Saud. In 1964, King Saud was pressured to abdicate, and Faisal became the absolute ruler of Saudi Arabia. As king, he sought to modernize his nation, and lent financial and moral support to anti-Israeli efforts in the Middle East. In 1975, Faisal was assassinated for reasons that remain obscure, and his half-brother, Crown Prince Khalid, ascended to the throne.

1989

For the first time, both the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race crews enter the event with women coxes. The race ends with a win for Oxford.

1980

In England, Robert Runcie is enthroned as the 102nd Archbishop of Canterbury - the religious leader of the Church of England.

1966

North face of the Eiger is scaled for the first time.

1957

Six European nations sign the Treaty of Rome to create a mutual trading bloc which becomes known as the Common Market.

1949

The film Hamlet, starring British actor Laurence Olivier, wins five Oscars - the first British film to win an academy award.

1925

King George of Greece is deposed and the new rulers proclaim the country a republic. March 25th is now officially the National Day of Greece.

1843

Official opening of the Rotherhithe Tunnel under the River Thames in London.

1815

Austria, Britain, Prussia and Russia sign an alliance to defeat the French forces of Napoleon Bonaparte.

1807

British parliament abolishes the slave trade.

1609

English navigator and explorer Henry Hudson (who gave his name to Hudson Bay in Canada) sets off on his third voyage attempting to find the north-west passage from the Atlantic to Pacific Ocean.

1306

Robert Bruce is crowned King of the Scots at Scone.

1947

British musician Elton John.

1944

American actor Michael Glaiser

1942

American singer Aretha Franklyn

1922

Singer Dorothy Squires

1908

Film director Sir David Lean

1908

Dame Bridget D'Oyly Carte

1906

English historian A.J.P.Taylor .

1881

Composer Bela Bartock

1867

Composer Arturo Toscanini

1820

Writer Anne Bronte

1918

Claude Achille Debussy, the French composer