On this day in history - Today, February, 11

Today in History

• 1858 Bernadette Soubirous sees a vision of the Virgin Mary near Lourdes

  The small town in southern France became one of the most important Christian places of pilgrimage.

• 1938 The BBC broadcasts Karel Čapek's “R.U.R.”, the world's first science fiction TV program

  The Czech play whose abbreviated title stands for “Rossum's Universal Robots” introduced the word “r

• 1975 Margaret Thatcher becomes the first female leader of the British Conservative Party

  Thatcher won the general elections in 1979 and became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

• 1979 Ayatollah Khomeini seizes power in Iran

  Few days after Khomeini's triumphant return from French exile, the Iranian army steps aside, making

• 1990 Nelson Mandela is freed after 27 years as a political prisoner

  The anti-apartheid campaigner's release was a high point in South Africa's transition from apartheid