1542 Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo sets sail from the Mexican port of Navidad on the first European voyage to explore the west coast of North America for the Spanish Empire.
1746 Flora MacDonald helps Bonnie Prince Charlie, disguised as Betty Burke an Irish maid, evade capture by landing him on the Isle of Skye.
On this day 1906, an earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale hit Swansea, wreaking damage and bringing panic to the streets. The cause of the earthquake was a fault line running from Hereford to Swansea. This remains one of the UK's largest ever tremors and was felt over much of south Wales. Contemporary reports tell of falling bricks and chimney pots, children being evacuated from school, Mumbles lighthouse wobbling on its foundations and Llanelli's Town Hall clock stopping. There were very few injuries, however, with only one man and a three-year-old boy requiring hospital treatment after being hit by bricks and a girl working in Cwmavon being badly injured when tin plates toppled on top of her. IMG_1977.jpeg
1957 The British Medical Research Council publishes a report suggesting a direct link between smoking and lung cancer.
Wales toured South Africa in 1998 under caretaker coach Denis John, with an inexperienced side and got the hiding of all hidings at Loftus Versfeld on 27th June, with the Boks running riot and winning the game 96-13. It was Wales's biggest ever defeat, the 15 tries Wales conceded was another record as was the 83-point losing margin. Today they play Barbarians at Twickers.
27 Jul 1963 During a UK tour The Beatles played the last night of a six night run at The Odeon Cinema, Weston-super-Mare. The Beatles spent the day with photographer Dezo Hoffman, who took photos and 8mm movies of The Beatles at their hotel, on the beach dressed in Victorian bathing suits, and go-karting.
1970: The band Smile, perform for the first time as Queen, playing Truro City Hall in Cornwall.
