May 13: The Great Dustbowl Storm and How Australia Was Born

On This Day in History May 13, 2020 Historical Events 1787  Arthur Phillip sets sails with 11 ships of criminals to Botany Bay, Australia 1830  Republic of Ecuador is founded, with Juan Jose Flores as president 1934  Great dustbowl storm sweeps across US prairies 1940  Winston Churchill says "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat" in his first speech as Prime Minister to British House of Commons 1981  Pope John Paul II is shot and critically wounded by Turkish gunman Mehemet Ali Agca in St Peter's Square, Vatican City 1989  Approx 2,000 students begin hunger strike in Tiananmen Square, China More Historical Events Famous Birthdays Jim Jones (1931 - 1978) Joe Louis (1914 - 1981) Stevie Wonder 70th Birthday Witold Pilecki (1901 - 1948) More Famous Birthdays Famous Deaths Doris Day (1922 - 2019) Fridtjof Nansen (1861 - 1930) More Famous Deaths May 13: How Australia Was Born Captain Arthur Phillip commanded a fleet of British ships carrying convicts to New South Wales on this day, effectively founding the British colony of Australia. Read the Article You Might Like Take Our Weekly Quiz You received this email because you opted in at our website, OnThisDay.com Update Your Preferences | Unsubscribe © 2020 OnThisDay.com 2 Acacia Place, Tauranga 3110, New Zealand