Wednesday 19 June 2013
On this Day - 19 June
1464 An ordinance of Louis XI in France created the poste, organizing relays of horses on the main roads for the king's business. 1754 The Anglo-French war broke out in North America when a force under George Washington skirmished with French troops near Fort Duquesne 1769 Hyder Ali of Mysore compelled the British at Madras to sign a treaty of mutual assistance. 1809 Curwen's Act was passed in Britain, to prevent the sale of parliamentary seats, thus decreasing the number of seats which the British government can manipulate for its regular supporters. 1829 Robert Peel's Act was passed, to establish a new police force in London and its suburbs. 1867 Emperor Maximilian was executed in Mexico 1917 The British royal family renounced German names and titles, having adopted the name of Windsor. 1963 US President Kennedy gave the address to Congress on civil rights. 1965 Ben Bella, president of Algeria, was deposed; Houari Boumédienne headed a revolutionary council. 1970 Harold Wilson resigned as prime minister 1996 A vast freshwater lake 4 km/2.5 mi under the ice of Antarctica was discovered. The lake covers 14,000 sq km/5,000 sq mi, and is kept from freezing by the friction of the ice and by heat radiating from the earth's core. 1996 Britain offered to slaughter up to 67,000 more cattle in an effort to end the ban on British beef. 1997 The US fast-food chain McDonalds won a two-year libel case in Britain against two environmental campaigners who claimed that the company caused environmental damage and exploited workers in the Third World.
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