Today in News History

On July 4, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1253, Battle of West-Capelle: John I of Avesnes defeats Guy of Dampierre. In 1874, John McPhee, Australian journalist and politician, 27th Premier of Tasmania (died 1952) was born. In 1879, Anglo-Zulu War: The Zululand capital of Ulundi is captured by British troops and burned to the ground, ending the war and forcing King Cetshwayo to flee. In 1900, Belinda Dann, Indigenous Australian who was one of the Stolen Generation, reunited with family aged 107 (died 2007) was born. In 1918, World War I: The Battle of Hamel, a successful attack by the Australian Corps against German positions near the town of Le Hamel on the Western Front. In 1920, Norm Drucker, American basketball player and referee (died 2015) was born. In 1929, Al Davis, American football player, coach, and manager (died 2011) was born. In 1931, Peter Richardson, English cricketer (died 2017) was born. In 1954, Food rationing in Great Britain ends, with the lifting of restrictions on sale and purchase of meat, 14 years after it began early in World War II, and nearly a decade after the war's end. In 1990, Jake Gardiner, American ice hockey player was born. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.