What happened on this day in history: Queen Victoria dies after ruling for 63 years, Heath Ledger is found dead in his New York apartment, and more.
1506: The First Swiss Guards Arrive In Vatican City
The first Swiss guardsmen, numbering 150, arrive in Vatican City. Suggested by Bishop Matthäus Schiner, on behalf of Pope Julius II, the Swiss Guards were put in place to guard the pope. Their service continues to this day.
1901: Queen Victoria Dies
Bassano/Spencer Arnold/Getty ImagesQueen Victoria’s death heralded the end of the Victorian Age.
Queen Victoria dies on the Isle of Wight in England at the age of 81. The queen’s death ended her 63-year reign, known as the Victorian Age, which was then the longest period of time that any British monarch had served. She was succeeded by her son, Edward VII.
1905: The Bloody Sunday Massacre Takes Place
Thousands of workers led by priest Georgy Apollonovich Gapon march to the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia. The workers, believing that Czar Nicholas II was unaware of their brutal working conditions, wished only to present a petition. But Russian soldiers fired upon the crowd, killing hundreds in a massacre dubbed “Bloody” or “Red” Sunday.
1984: Apple Starts Selling Macintosh
The first Apple Macintosh computers are sold. In a famous Superbowl ad a few days before, Apple announced: “Apple will introduce Macintosh. And you’ll see why 1984 won’t be like ‘1984’.”
1987: Budd Dwyer Dies By Suicide On Live TV
Wikimedia CommonsR. Budd Dwyer warns others to stay back just seconds before fatally shooting himself in front of television cameras on January 22, 1987.
Budd Dwyer dies by suicide on live TV. Dwyer, the Pennsylvania State Treasurer, had been found guilty on 11 counts of conspiracy, mail fraud, perjury, and interstate transportation in aid of racketeering. Protesting his innocence, Dwyer called a press conference, pulled out a .357 Magnum revolver, and shot himself in the mouth.
2008: Heath Ledger Is Found Dead In His New York Apartment
Carlo Allegri/Getty ImagesHeath Ledger in 2006.
Heath Ledger dies in New York City at the age of 28 from an accidental drug overdose.
An Australian actor who’d starred in films like 10 Things I Hate About You, Brokeback Mountain, and The Dark Knight, Ledger had allegedly struggled with insomnia and drug use leading up to his death. A subsequent autopsy found that he had oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam, and doxylamine in his system when he died.
