68 – Roman Emperor Nero commits suicide, imploring his secretary Epaphroditos to slit his throat to evade a Senate-imposed death by flogging
721 – Odo of Aquitaine defeats the Moors in the Battle of Toulouse
1549 – Book of Common Prayer is adopted by the Church of England
1815 – End of the Congress of Vienna: New European political situation is set
1856 – 500 Mormons leave Iowa City, Iowa, and head west for Salt Lake City, Utah, carrying all their possessions in two-wheeled handcarts
1940 – German tank forces under Major General Erwin Rommel crossed the Seine River in a push to the Atlantic coast of France during World War II.
1977 – Silver jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain celebrated with fireworks
1983 – British Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, buoyed by victory in the Falkland Islands War and by deep divisions within the opposition Labour Party, was easily reelected to a second term in office this day in 1983.
1997 – British lease on the New Territories in Hong Kong expires
2019 – Over 1 million people protest in Hong Kong over proposed new extradition laws to China in one of largest-ever protests in the city
Births & Deaths: 1870 – English writer Charles Dickens, generally considered the greatest Victorian novelist, died at Gad’s Hill near Chatham, Kent.
1963 – American actor Johnny Depp, who was known for his eclectic and unconventional film choices, was born.
Sport: 1973 – 105th Belmont: Ron Turcotte aboard Secretariat wins in 2:24, becoming the 1st Triple Crown winner in 25 years.
Music: 1924 – “Jelly-Roll Blues” is recorded by blues great Jelly Roll Morton
TV & Film: 1934 – 1st appearance of Donald Duck in a cartoon, “The Wise Little Hen”
