On this day ... these things happened.
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Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking. | william Butler Yeats
There is a species of sponge that can live for 15 000 years. This makes them one of the longest-living organisms on Earth.
1775 Patrick Henry proclaims his famous “Give me liberty or give me death” speech in favour of Virginian troops joining the US Revolutionary War.
1801 Russia’s Tsar Paul I is struck with a sword, then strangled, and trampled to death inside his bedroom at St Michael’s Castle.
1806 After exploring the newly bought Louisiana Purchase – much of Western North America – and reaching the Pacific Ocean, Lewis and Clark begin their long journey home.
1846 Henry Warden makes the first known reference to Bloemfontein when he writes to the governor about a farm between Philippolis and Thaba Nchu with the name “Bloem Fontein”, belonging to a JN Brits.
1881 The 3-month siege of British soldiers in the Old Fort in Potchefstroom ends amicably, with Boer leader Piet Cronje inviting the British officers to dinner at the Royal Hotel.
1888 In England, The Football League, the world’s oldest professional association football league, meets for the first time.
1944 Preferring to die by impact rather than burn to death, RAF gunner Flight-Sergeant Nicholas Alkemade bales out of his crippled Lancaster bomber from 5 500 m over Germany without a parachute. His fall is broken by pine trees and soft snow and he hobbles away to captivity with only a sprained leg.
1956 Pakistan becomes the first Islamic republic in the world.
1972 Motorcycle daredevil Evel Knievel breaks 93 bones after jumping over 35 cars.
2018 A Sahara sandstorm turns snow in Sochi, Russia, orange.
2020 A national 21-day lockdown is called by President Ramaphosa to begin on March 27.
2021 One of the largest container ships in the world, the Ever Given, runs aground in the strategically important and busy Suez Canal, blocking traffic.
2023 Utah is the first state in America to limit social media for minors, including an overnight curfew and parental consents.
2023 Footballer Harry Kane overtakes Wayne Rooney’s record to become England’s all-time greatest goalscorer in 2‑1 victory over Italy, with his 54th goal.
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