1990: Yemen united
After 150 years apart, Marxist South Yemen and conservative North Yemen are unified as the Republic of Yemen. Situated at the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, Yemen was divided between the British and the Ottomans in the mid-19th century. The Turks were expelled from the North in 1918, but the British continued to dominate the South until 1967, when the Arab world's first and only Marxist state, the People's Republic of South
Yemen, was established. The unification of Yemen in 1990 did not go as smoothly as hoped; economic troubles in 1991 brought Yemen to the brink of collapse, and a civil war in 1994 temporarily dissolved the Yemeni union. Free elections resumed in 1997.
2003
In America, Swedish golfer Annika Sorenstam becomes the first female to play in a men’s PGA tour event since 1945. 1981
In England,
Peter Sutcliffe, “the Yorkshire Ripper” is found guilty of killing 13 women and the attempted murder of 7 others. He is sentenced to a minimum of 30 years in jail.
1972
Ceylon changes its name
Sri Lanka, becoming a Republic within the British Commonwealth.
1970
South Africa’s cricket tour to England is called off in the face off anti-apartheid protests.1964
In a speech at the University of Michigan, American President Lyndon Johnson, announces the goals of his “Great Society”. 1947
American President
Harry Truman signs an act which gives $400 million of military and economic aid to
Turkey and
Greece to help prevent them from falling to communist revolutions, in what comes to be known as the
Truman Doctrine. 1939
German Fuhrer Adolf
Hitler and
Italian Fascist leader Benito
Mussolini sign a 'Pact of Steel' to support each other in the event of war.
1936
The government backed airline Aer Lingus is founded in Ireland. 1917
The First World War:
Hungarian Prime Minister
Istvan Tisza resigns at the request of the Austro-Hungarian Emperor Karl I.
1915
Britain's worst train disaster; 227 killed when a train carrying soldiers hits a passenger train at
Gretna Green in Scotland.
1906
In America, the Wright brothers receive a
patent for their “flying machine”.
1840
Britain ends the practice of sending convicts to New South Wales in
Australia. 1819
The
SS Savannah leaves Georgia, U.S.A. for Liverpool, England, becoming the first steamship to cross the Atlantic Ocean when it arrived in June.
1455
In England, the first major battle of the War of the Roses. The Lancastrians defeat the Yorkists at the Battle of St Albans. 1943
Northern Ireland peace campaigner
Betty Williams. Joint winner of the Nobel Peace prize.
1907
British
actor Sir
Laurence Olivier. Becomes recognised as one of the best actors of the 20th century on stage and in film.
1859
Writer Sir
Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of fictional detective SherlockHolmes, is born of
Irish parents in Edinburgh.
1813
German composer Richard Wagner.1783
English scientist William Sturgeon.1990
American boxer Rocky Graziano.1972
English actress Dame Margaret Rutherford aged 80.1972
English Poet Laureate Cecil Day-Lewis.1885
French dramatist and nolvelist
Victor Hugo - author of Les Miserables.
