On this day in history - Today, February, 6

Today in History

• 1840 New Zealand becomes a British colony

  While the Treaty of Waitangi is generally celebrated as the country's founding document, many Māori

• 1952 Elizabeth II becomes Queen of the United Kingdom

  She succeeded her father, George VI, who died that day.

• 1959 The first microchip is patented

  For his invention of the integrated circuit, Jack Kilby was awarded the 2000 Nobel Prize in Physics.

• 1989 The Round Table Talks start in Poland

  The negotiations between the Polish government and the trade union Solidarność, or Solidarity in Eng

• 1996 The crash of a Boeing 757 aircraft leaves no survivors

  Birgenair Flight 301 was the worst accident involving this type of aircraft.