On June 20, 1837, Queen Victoria acceded to the British throne after the death of her uncle, King William IV.
In 1898 the U.S. seized Spanish-ruled Guam during the Spanish-American War.
In 1940 actor John Mahoney, later of Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre ensemble, was born in Manchester, England.
In 1947 Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel was shot dead in his girlfriend’s mansion in Beverly Hills, Calif., apparently by mob associates.
In 1967 boxer Muhammad Ali was convicted in Houston of violating Selective Service laws by refusing to be drafted. (Ali’s conviction was overturned by the Supreme Court.)
In 1975 Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” was released.
In 1979 ABC News reporter Bill Stewart was shot to death in Managua, Nicaragua, by a member of President Anastasio Somoza’s national guard.
In 1991 German lawmakers voted to return the seat of the national government to Berlin.
In 1993 the Chicago Bulls won their third NBA title in a row, defeating the Phoenix Suns in game six of their series.
In 2002 the Supreme Court declared that executing mentally retarded murderers was unconstitutionally cruel.
