Historical Events 1471 - Battle of Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, final battle between the Houses of Lancaster and York: Prince of Wales, Edward of Westminster killed and King Edward IV returns to his throne, restoring political stability to England until his death in 1483 1776 - Rhode Island declares independence from Great Britain 1859 - The Cornwall Railway opens across the Royal Albert Bridge linking the counties of Devon and Cornwall in England. 1866 - Woodward's Gardens opens to the public in San Francisco 1917 - A flotilla of US destroyer ships arrive in Queenstown, Ireland, to aid in convoying ships to England 1970 - National Guard kills 4 student anti-war protesters at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio More Historical Events » Famous Birthdays 1822 - Charles Boucher de Boucherville, Premier of Quebec, born in Montreal, Quebec (d. 1915) 1923 - Eric Sykes, British radio, stage and television comedy writer, actor and director (Goon Show; Sykes and A...), born in Oldham, L