This Day in History: May 13

1787 Arthur Phillip sets sails with 11 ships of criminals to Botany Bay, Australia

In an effort to relieve overcrowded prisons in Britain, Arthur Phillip led a fleet of ships carrying convicted criminals to establish a penal colony in Australia. This marked the beginning of European settlement in Australia.

1830 Republic of Ecuador is founded, with Juan Jose Flores as president

Ecuador gained its independence from Spain in 1822, but it wasn't until 1830 that it officially became a republic with the adoption of a new constitution and the election of Juan Jose Flores as its first president.

1909 The Giro d'Italia cycle race is held for the first time

Considered one of the most prestigious cycling races in the world, the Giro d'Italia was first held in 1909. The race covers over 3,000 kilometers and is typically held over the course of three weeks.

1934 Great dustbowl storm sweeps across US prairies

The Dust Bowl was a period of severe dust storms and drought that greatly impacted the ecology and agriculture of the Great Plains region in the United States. In 1934, a particularly large dust storm swept across the prairies, causing widespread damage and further exacerbating the crisis.

1940 Winston Churchill says "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat" in his first speech as Prime Minister to British House of Commons

After being appointed as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in the midst of World War II, Winston Churchill delivered his first speech to the House of Commons on May 13, 1940. In it, he rallied the British people and called for a united effort to defeat the Axis powers.

1940 Igor Sikorsky pilots his VS-300 helicopter's maiden flight

Igor Sikorsky, a Russian-American inventor and aviation pioneer, successfully piloted the first helicopter with a single vertical tail rotor that has since become the standard design for helicopters around the world.

1981 Pope John Paul II is shot and critically wounded by Turkish gunman Mehmet Ali Agca in St Peter's Square, Vatican City

In an assassination attempt on May 13, 1981, Pope John Paul II was shot and critically wounded by Turkish extremist Mehmet Ali Agca while he was addressing a crowd in St. Peter's Square. The Pope later forgave his attacker and even visited him in prison.

1989 Approx 2,000 students begin hunger strike in Tiananmen Square, China.

In April 1989, thousands of Chinese students began a peaceful protest in Tiananmen Square to demand greater political freedom and democracy in China. The protest turned violent when the Chinese government declared martial law and sent in the military to forcefully disperse the demonstrators. The crackdown resulted in the deaths of hundreds, if not thousands, of protesters.