Today in News History

On July 1, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1782, Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham, English politician, Prime Minister of Great Britain (born 1730) passed away. In 1867, The British North America Act takes effect as the Province of Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia join into confederation to create the modern nation of Canada. John A. Macdonald is sworn in as the first Prime Minister of Canada. This date is commemorated annually in Canada as Canada Day, a national holiday. In 1881, General Order 70, the culmination of the Cardwell and Childers reforms of the British Army, comes into effect. In 1942, The Australian Federal Government becomes the sole collector of income tax in Australia as State Income Tax is abolished. In 1978, The Northern Territory in Australia is granted self-government. In 1990, German reunification: East Germany accepts the Deutsche Mark as its currency, thus uniting the economies of East and West Germany. In 1996, William T. Cahill, American lawyer and politician, 46th Governor of New Jersey (born 1904) passed away. In 1999, The Scottish Parliament is officially opened by Elizabeth II on the day that legislative powers are officially transferred from the old Scottish Office in London to the new devolved Scottish Executive in Edinburgh. In Wales, the powers of the Welsh Secretary are transferred to the National Assembly. In 2006, The first operation of Qinghai-Tibet Railway is conducted in China. In 2013, William H. Gray, American minister and politician (born 1941) passed away. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.