The Welsh claim to Manhattan

Robert Edwards (1716 - c.1788) was a Welsh buccaneer given 77 acres of largely unsettled Manhattan by Queen Anne of England for his services in disrupting Spanish sea lanes. On June 1st 1778. Edwards leased the land for 99 years to John and George Cruger on the agreement that the land and all improvements thereon were to revert to the descendants of Edwards and his siblings at the expiration of the lease on May 31st 1877.  Apparently, this never happened and the land ended up in the hands of Trinity Church, of which the Crugers were wardens. 

Subsequently, all attempts by Edward's heirs to file a claim to the land have proved fruitless, with the case eventually being defeated by the state's Statute of Limitations.

Born this day 1938 in Prestatyn.

John Prescott - Britain's longest serving Deputy Prime Minister, who is also remembered for his passion for Jaguars and the punch he threw at a farmer during an election campaign.  

Born this day 1875 in Taibach

Daniel "Dan" Jones ,  Welsh international rugby union scrum-half who played club rugby for Aberavon. He is notable for being the first player to represent Aberavon at international level.  Jones was a tinplate furnaceman by occupation and lived in Taibach all his life.  

Born this day 1910 in Briton Ferry

Sir Francis Avery Jones - gastroenterologist. 

After graduating in medicine from St Bartholomew's Hospital Medical School, Jones specialised in gastroenterology and became a leading authority on the treatment of stomach and bowel ulceration. He was also the editor of the journal Gut, a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and president of the Medical Society of London.  

May 31st 1900, saw the installation of The Welsh Hospital at Springfontein, South Africa 

The Welsh Hospital was a private initiative by Professor Alfred W Hughes and a team of surgeons, medical students, nurses and volunteers from Wales, that operated during the Anglo Boer War (1899-1902).  The mobile hospital was employed initially treating the wounded at Springfontein but was later moved to Bloemfontein to help deal with a typhoid epidemic, which was wiping out the British troops.

On this day 1977, Wales defeated England at Wembley at soccer for the only time to date.  The score was 1-0, with Leighton James scoring the goal from the penalty spot  

The Welsh team that day was;

Dai Davies

Rod Thomas

Joey Jones

John Mahoney

Leighton Phillips

Ian Evans

Peter Sayer

Brian Flynn

Terry Yorath

Nick Deacy

Leighton James

Manager: Mike Smith 

And the England team;

Peter Shilton (Stoke City); Phil Neal(Liverpool), Emlyn Hughes (Liverpool),Dave Watson (Man City), Mick Mills(Ipswich); Kevin Keegan (Liverpool, capt), Brian Greenhoff (Man Utd), Trevor Brooking (West Ham; sub: Dennis Tueart), Ray Kennedy (Liverpool); Mick Channon (Southampton), Stuart Pearson (Man Utd).  

The Battle of Jutland, during World War I commenced on 31st May 1916 at which Vice Admiral Sir Hugh Evan-Thomas from the Llwynmadoc estate near Beulah, Powys distinguished himself and earned glowing tributes from Admiral John Jellicoe.  Evan Thomas was subsequently knighted for his actions. 

The Battle of Jutland is considered to be the main naval battle of World War One.  Even though the British Navy lost considerably more men and ships than the German Navy and Admiral John Jellicoe's tactics received much criticism, it is considered as a British victory, as the German Navy was never in a position again to put to sea during the war and the British Navy remained a powerful fighting force.