THIS WEEK IN HISTORY

12 June, 1964 – Nelson Mandela is sentenced to life in prison

The South African anti-apartheid activist spent 27 years in prison. In 1993, he received the Nobel Peace Prize and one year later he became President of South Africa.


13 June, 1983 – Pioneer 10 becomes the first man-made object to leave the central solar system

The United States space probe crossed the orbit of Neptune, which at the time was classified as the furthest planet from the Sun.


14 June, 1919 – Alcock and Brown take off for the first non-stop transatlantic flight

The British aviators began their journey in St. John's, Newfoundland and reached Galway in Ireland less than 16 hours later.


15 June, 1991 – Mount Pinatubo explodes

The strato volcano's eruption was one of the most violent of the 20th century. About 800 people died, but the event had also global consequences. It caused a global temperature drop of 0.5°C.


16 June, 1960 – Alfred Hitchcock's film Psycho is premiered

The horror-thriller starring Anthony Perkins and Vera Miles has become one of the classics of the genre. The shower scene is one of the best-known murder scenes in the history of film.


17 June, 1885 – The Statue of Liberty arrives in New York

Hundreds of thousands of spectators welcomed the emblematic statue, which was a gift to the United States from the people of France and has become one of the country's most recognised symbols.


18 June, 1815 – Napoleon suffers a shattering defeat at the Battle of Waterloo

The battle was Napoleon's last. The French Emperor was exiled to Saint Helena where he died six years later. “To meet one's Waterloo” is still a figure of speech today indicating total defeat.

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