1477: “The Dictes & Sayengis of the Philosophers,” the first dated printed book in England, is printed by William Caxton at his press in Westminster

1626: St. Peter’s Basilica is consecrated in Rome, replacing an earlier basilica on the same site and becoming the world’s largest Christian church

1916: British General Douglas Haig finally calls off the First Battle of the Somme in World War I after more than 1 million soldiers are killed or wounded

1978: In Jonestown, Guyana, 918 members of the Peoples Temple are murdered or commit suicide under the leadership of cult leader Jim Jones

1993: Black and white leaders in South Africa approve a new democratic constitution

Source: Onthisday.com