Content by F T.Bear
Good morning! Rise and shine!
Today in history is a place for you early risers to exercise your brains as you wait for the day to begin. Please, by all means, bring your own bits of history to the comments section and add your memories of what YOU did on this day however many years ago.
The beauty of an early morning historical post is that the date can mean the event happened today “our time” or today “other side of the world” time.
From the life and death of Plato through to the latest most recent history as it happens, we intend on bringing you stimulating and educational historical knowledge.
July 8
1893: The New Zealand Racing Conference is formed. It was to control the thoroughbred horse-racing industry, that had up until then been run by local committees on an ad-hoc basis, each with their own rules, and little coordination between regions.
1862: New Zealand’s first prizefight takes place on the banks of the Waimakariri River near Kaiapoi. Over 30 bare-knuckle bloody rounds, London prizefighter Harry Jones defeated “navvie” George Barton to claim the 100-pound purse. Both men would serve 1 month in jail for assault but the other charges including making an affray were dismissed. The irony in this was not lost on many when the Magistrate, Crown Prosecutor, and head police man were all ringside.
1951: Paris celebrates its 2000th birthday.
1994: Kim Il-Sung dies of a heart attack, aged 82. “Great Leader” had ruled since 1948. He had fought against the Japanese occupation and was singled out by the Soviets who sent him to the USSR for military and political training. He became a communist and fought in the Red Army in World War II.