1941: Hess lands in Scotland
On May 10, 1941,
Rudolf Hess, deputy leader of
Nazi Germany, flies a small plane to Scotland and parachutes to the ground in a bizarre attempt to negotiate a peace settlement with Britain. He claimed he wanted to speak with the Duke of Hamilton, whom he met at the 1936
Berlin Olympics, with the goal of persuading Britain and Germany to join in war against the
Soviet Union. Adolf
Hitler labeled him insane, and the British agreed, but this did not keep Hess from judgment at Nuremberg for war crimes. He was sentenced to life, eventually becoming the sole prisoner at
Spandau Prison in
East Germany. He died in 1987 after apparently trying to hang himself with an electrical cord. He was 93.
1960
US nuclear-powered submarine
Triton completes a 4-day submerged voyage
1941
Deputy Fuhrer
Rudolph Hess parachutes into Eaglesham, near Glasgow in Scotland from a Messerschmidt 110 aeroplane he's flown from Augsburg claiming he wants to negotiate a peace treaty between England and Germany. After interrogation he is jailed for life.
1941
World War II: in
Britain, the worst night of
the Blitz - 550
German bombers drop 100,000 bombs on London. More than 1500 people are killed and many thousands more injured. Among the badly damaged buildings - the
House of Commons at Westminster.
1938
Travel Agent Thomas Cook first introduces eight-day package holidays from Britain to the French Riviera. The cost: approx £8.50.1933
In Vienna, the Austrian Chancellor bans all
Nazi meetings.
1922
Dr Ivy Williams of Oxford becomes the first English woman called to the bar.1921
In Detroit, the Ford Motor Company sets a daily production record of 4,072 cars in one day. 1919
Start of Britain's first scheduled commercial air service from Manchester to Southport.1916
Explorer Ernest Shackleton and companions reach the Falkland island of South Georgia in the South Atlantic after sailing 800 miles in 16 days in an open boat looking for help for the remaining members of their party marooned on Elephant island , Antarctica.1915
World War I: German Zeppelins carry out their first
air raid on London.
1913
US Congress officially declares the second Sunday in May as 'Mother's Day'.1869
Completion of the US Pacific Railroad when the Central Pacific and Union Pacific join lines at Promontory, Utah.1865
Jefferson Davis, President of the
Confederacy, is captured by Union troops during the American Civil War.
1857
A revolt by Sepoys at Meerut starts the
Indian Mutiny by Indian soldiers serving in the British Army.
1796
Napoleon Bonaparte's Army of
Italy defeats the Austrians at the Battle of Lodi near Milan. More than 2,000 Austrian troops killed or wounded.
1655
Jamaica is captured by Britain after being held by
Spain for more than 150 years.
1307
Scottish King Robert the Bruce defeats at English
cavalry army at the Battle of Loudem Hill in Ayrshire.
1920
Writer and naturalist
Richard Adams - author of Watership Down.
1899
Fred Astaire (real name
Frederick Austerlitz) who became one of America's most celebrated singer/dancer/actors. Born
Omaha, Nebraska to Austrian immigrant parents. Teamed up with famous dancing partner Ginger Rogers in Hollywood in 1933. Films included 'Top Hat', 'Easter Parade' and 'Silk Stockings'.
1894
Composer & conductor Dimitri Tiomkin. Film scores include 'High Noon'1892
British actress Dame Margaret Rutherford.1888
Composer & conductor Max Steiner. He won academy awards for writing the music for films such as 'Now Voyager' and 'The Informer'.1863
Thomas 'Stonewall' Jackson, a Confederate General during the
American Civil War, dies eight days after being shot accidentally by his own troops.
1850
Sir Thomas Lipton, founder of Lipton's grocery chain in
Britain, born in Glasgow. He goes from an errand boy to a millionaire by the age of 30.
1838
John Wilkes Booth - a member of one of America's best known acting families. In 1865 he assassinates President
Abraham Lincoln. 1977
Hollywood film actress Joan Crawford (real name Lucille Leseuer). She won an Oscar in 1945 for her role in 'Mildred Pierce'.1975
Sid Vicious - singer with the British pop group the Sex Pistols who began the 'punk' movement of the 70s and 80s. Died of heroin overdose aged 21.1932
French President
Paul Doumer assassinated by a Russian emigre.
1920
American inventor
John Wesley Hyatt who discovered the process for making celluloid.
1863
American Civil War Confederate Geneneral Stonewall Jackson.1818
American
patriot Paul Revere - best known for warning the people of Boston and the American soldiers in Massachusetts of the advancing British troops during the American War of Independence.
1566
German physician & botanist Leonhard Fuchs. Gave his name to the fuchsia plant.
