1616: First non-aristocratic, free public school in Europe is opened in Frascati, Italy
1821: Act of Independence of Central America: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras & Nicaragua declare their independence from the Spanish Empire
1835: HMS Beagle with Charles Darwin on board reaches the Galapagos Islands
1916: first use of tanks in warfare, “Little Willies” at Battle of Flers-Courcelette, part of the Battle of the Somme
1928: Scottish bacteriologist Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin while studying influenza
1940: Battle of Britain Day: climax of the Battle of Britain, tide begins to turn as the Royal Air Force repulses a major Luftwaffe attack, losing 29 aircraft to the Germans’ 57-61
1992: George Soros’ Quantum Fund begins selling large amounts of pound sterling, labelled “the man who broke the Bank of England” when pound crashes out of the ERM next day
Source: Onthisday.com
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