MORE EVENTS ON THIS DAY

2015: New Zealand rugby union football player Jonah Lomu, who was perhaps rugby's first global icon, died of a heart attack at age 40 after a long battle with kidney disease. [ Sort fact from fiction in our quiz about rugby sevens.]

2009: American Democratic politician Robert C. Byrd became the longest-serving member of Congress, with a combined service in the House of Representatives and Senate of 56 years 319 days; he died the following year. [Read our Read our list of 10 Democrats who made history.]

1959: The American dramatic film Ben-Hur, arguably the best of Hollywood's biblical epics, had its world premiere; it later won an unprecedented 11 Academy Awards. [How much do you know about the Academy Awards?]

1941: John Christian Watson, the first Labour prime minister of Australia, died in Sydney. [Take our quiz about the Australian system of government.]

1923: Alan B. Shepard, Jr., the first U.S. astronaut to travel in space, was born in New Hampshire. [ Learn about five unforgettable moments in space exploration.]

1905: Prince Charles (Carl) of Denmark was elected king of Norwayas Haakon VII. [Test your knowledge of kings and emperors.]