This day in history

(June 21)

1377 - King Edward III died after ruling England for 50 years; he was succeeded by his grandson, Richard II.

1788 - The United States Constitution went into effect as New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify it.

1942 - Tobruk in Libya fell to the German army under Field Marshal Rommel during World War Two.

1963 - Cardinal Giovanni Montini was elected Pope after the death of John XXIII. He became Pope Paul VI.

1964 - The US civil rights bill was passed by the House of Representatives. The Senate approved it on July 2.

2007 - Canadian army medic signs mural at Afghanistan patrol base, starting string of handprints from medics who followed in a record now referred to as "The Healing Hands of Sperwan Ghar".

2009 - Denmark's Queen hands over law of Self government to Greenland.