On May 9 1949, Prince Rainier III of Monaco became the 30th ruling Prince of the Principaute.







What other events took place that year?

Here are some:

-

Sir Malcolm Campbell died;



- The 7" record is introduced in the USA albeit that RCA's version runs at 45rpm whilst Columbia's runs at 33.3rpm;


- Eight countries, including Britain, announce a new peace alliance to be known as the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation;


- In Dublin, Eire is proclaimed the Republic of Ireland;




Chocolate and sweet rationing ends in the UK;


- The UK gas industry is nationalised;


- The Russian blockade of Berlin is lifted. The Federal Republic of Germany is formed;


- A new UK invention, the 'ejector seat', is tested;




- After four months entrapment by Chinese communists, HMS Amethyst escapes from the Yangtse River under cover of darkness;

-The De Havilland Comet, the worlds first jet airliner, makes its first flight;



- Sugar refiners, Tate and Lyle, announce all-out war against plans to nationalise the industry;



- Mao Tse-tung is elected Chairman of the Peoples Republic of China;



- Composer Richard Strauss dies;


- Russia tests it first A-bomb.