The Siege of Berwick lasted four months in 1333, and resulted in the
Scottish-held town of Berwick-upon-Tweed being captured by an English
army commanded by King Edward III (r. 1327–1377). The year before,
Edward Balliol had seized the Scottish Crown, surreptitiously supported
by Edward III. After Balliol was expelled from the kingdom by a popular
uprising, Edward III invaded Scotland. An advance force laid siege to
the strategically important border town of Berwick in March; Edward III
and the main English army joined it in May and pressed the attack. A
large Scottish army advanced to relieve the town. After unsuccessfully
manoeuvring for position and knowing that Berwick was on the verge of
surrender, the Scots felt compelled to attack the English at Halidon
Hill. They suffered a crushing defeat and Berwick surrendered the next
day, 20 July. Balliol was reinstalled as King of Scotland after ceding a
large part of his territory to Edward III and agreeing to do homage for
the balance.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Berwick_%281333%29>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1976:
The Viking 1 lander became the first spacecraft to successfully
land on Mars and perform its mission (documentary clip shown).
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viking_1>
1982:
Members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army detonated two
bombs in Hyde Park and Regent's Park in London, killing 11 people, 7
horses, and wounding over 50 other people.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyde_Park_and_Regent%27s_Park_bombings>
1999:
The Chinese government began a persecution campaign against
Falun Gong, arresting thousands nationwide.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_Falun_Gong>
2012:
A gunman opened fire at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado,
killing 12 people and injuring 58 others.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Aurora,_Colorado_shooting>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
lunar:
1. Of, pertaining to, or resembling the Moon (that is, Luna, the Earth's
moon); Lunar.
2. Shaped like a crescent moon; lunate.
3. (chiefly historical) (Believed to be) influenced by the Moon or the
moon of another planet, as in character, growth, or properties.
4. (alchemy, chemistry, historical) Of or pertaining to silver (which
was symbolically associated with the Moon by alchemists).
5. (astronomy) Of or pertaining to travel through space between the
Earth and the Moon, or exploration and scientific investigation of the
Moon.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/lunar>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
HERE MEN FROM THE PLANET EARTH FIRST SET FOOT UPON THE MOON
JULY 1969, A.D. WE CAME IN PEACE FOR ALL MANKIND.
--NASA
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/NASA>