1971 Idi Amin, British-trained commander of the Ugandan armed forces, deposed President Milton Obote. His rule (1971–9) was one of the most brutal in African history. 1917 The White Star liner Laurentic, carrying 479 passengers (mostly British Army personnel) and a secret cargo of gold bullion, struck German mines a few miles off Lough Swilly … Read more
1991 John Kelly (59), Fine Gael politician, government minister, attorney general (May–July 1987) and lawyer who wrote extensively on legal matters, notably The Irish Constitution (1980), died. 1920 Percy French (65), civil engineer, watercolourist and entertainer, died from pneumonia in Formby, Lancashire. 1986 By-elections were held for the fifteen House of Commons seats held by … Read more
1986 In Westminster by-elections forced by their resignations in protest at the Anglo-Irish Agreement, fourteen of the fifteen Unionist MPs regained their seats. Seamus Mallon won a seat for the SDLP. 1980 Guiseppe Conlon (57), one of the ‘Maguire Seven’ whose convictions were overturned in 1991, died in Hammersmith Hospital, London, in the fifth year … Read more
1981 Sir Norman Stronge (86), former speaker of the Stormont parliament, and his son James (48), a member of the RUC reserve, were shot dead by the IRA at their home, Tynan Abbey, close to the Armagh/Monaghan border. 1981 Sir Norman Stronge, former speaker of the Stormont parliament, and his son James were shot dead … Read more
1894 Robert Halpin (57), master mariner, died. Going to sea at the age of ten, Halpin served his apprenticeship on a coal boat, and afterwards joined a barque sailing in the North Atlantic, reaching the rank of third mate by the age of seventeen. After nine years under sail, he transferred to steam and got … Read more