What happened this week in history

In 1306, in front of the high altar of Greyfriars Church in Dumfries, Robert the Bruce murdered John Comyn, sparking revolution in the Wars of Scottish Independence.
Former Blue Peter presenter Peter Purves celebrates his 77th birthday.Former Blue Peter presenter Peter Purves celebrates his 77th birthday.
Former Blue Peter presenter Peter Purves celebrates his 77th birthday.

1567 - Lord Darnley, the second husband of Mary, Queen of Scots, was found strangled following an explosion at the Kirk o’ Field house in Edinburgh; a suspected assassination.

1837 - Russian poet and novelist Alexander Pushkin was killed in a duel.

1840 - Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha were married in St James’ Palace. Both were aged 20.

1863 - The fire extinguisher was patented by Alanson Crane.

1906 - HMS Dreadnought, the first of a revolutionary new breed of battleships, was christened and launched by King Edward VII.

1913 - The bodies of Captain Scott and two of his companions were found in the Antarctic, 11 miles from a food depot.

1916 - Conscription began in Britain.

1931 - New Delhi became the capital of India.

1933 - The first singing telegram was introduced, by the Postal Telegram Company in New York.

1940 - The Hanna-Barbera cartoon Tom and Jerry was shown for the first time.

1942 - The first ever gold disc was awarded to Glenn Miller for selling one million copies of Chattanooga Choo Choo.

1952 - The Congress Party of India, led by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, won an outright victory in India’s first general election.

1983 - Police launched a mass murder investigation in London after discovering human remains in drains. Civil servant Dennis Andrew Nilsen was charged with murder the next day. He was later charged with 12 murders and sentenced to life.

1990 - South African President F W de Klerk announced black activist Nelson Mandela would be released after 27 years in captivity.

2005 - The engagement of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles was announced.

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