Today in History

• 2010 The President of Poland, Lech Kaczyński, dies in a plane crash

  Several high-ranking officials, senior members of the Polish clergy, as well as relatives of the Katyn massacre victims were killed. The accident was blamed on pilot error and bad weather.

• 2001 Mercy killings become legal in the Netherlands

  In a controversial decision the Dutch senate approved a bill legalizing euthanasia for patients with unbearable, terminal illness.

• 1998 Negotiators in Northern Ireland reach an historic peace deal

  The Good Friday Agreement ended 30 years of violent conflict about Northern Ireland’s constitutional status (“The Troubles”).

• 1970 The Beatles break up as Paul McCartney leaves the band

  In their ten years of existence, the British rock group became one of the most successful bands of all time, selling over a billion albums, according to EMI. McCartney’s announcement came a week before the release of his debut solo album, the starting point of a successful solo career.

• 1815 Mount Tambora explodes in one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded history

  At least 71,000 people were killed by the eruption. The explosion was heard up to 2000 km (1200 mi) away.