On Shula's birthday. Happy birthday!

11 April 1890 - John Merrick died. The Elephant Man. 

Suffering from a congenital disorder, possibly Proteus Syndrome, from an early age, Merrick after failing to find work and living in the workhouse, eventually ended up as an exhibit in a travelling show as the Elephant Man. He was discovered aged 24 by the renowned surgeon Frederick Treves when the show was visiting Whitechapel, London. 

Treves gave him a home and treatment at the London Hospital where Merrick became something of a celebrity with several notable visitors. He spent short holidays in the countryside and made visits to the theatre.

He was found dead in bed in 1890 aged 27, it is thought from asphyxia after lying down rather than sleeping sitting up due to the weight of his badly deformed head.

12 April 1961 - The first man in space.

27 year old cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin on board Vostok 1 was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on the morning of 12 April. In a single orbit at a maximum altitude of 177 miles and after 98 minutes in space Gagarin returned safely to Earth near the town of Engels after firing the ejection mechanism at 23,000 ft and parachuting to the ground. 

12 April 1961 - The first man in space.

27 year old cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin on board Vostok 1 was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on the morning of 12 April. In a single orbit at a maximum altitude of 177 miles and after 98 minutes in space Gagarin returned safely to Earth near the town of Engels after firing the ejection mechanism at 23,000 ft and parachuting to the ground. 

November 3, 1957

First living thing, Laika the dog, launched into space by the Soviets . Poor thing didn't make it back alive.

The Russians were certainly ahead in the early days of the space race, but the USA pulled ahead by the late 60s. 

13 April 1935 - The first commercial Australia to UK air service began.

Leaving weekly and at 12½ days it was far quicker than the sea route, but a considerable ordeal involving numerous overnight stops and changes of aircraft, it was also extremely expensive at £195.

On the first flight leaving Brisbane, Australia on 13 April 1935 there were no passengers making the full journey to Croydon, but on the first flight leaving England on 20 April two passengers were booked for the full journey. The route took in Europe, north Africa, the Middle East, India, the Far East, Indonesia and Australia. 

14 April 1629 - Christiaan Huygens born

Dutch scientist and inventor best known for building the first truly accurate pendulum clock in 1656. He also improved the telescope and discovered a number of planetary moons.