2015 Event Pope Francis appoints 20 new cardinals from a diverse array of nations, including Vietnam, New Zealand, Ethiopia, Tonga, Mexico, Myanmar, Uruguay, France and Thailand; three-fourths of the cardinals will have authority to vote on a papal successor 1970 Event Tonga, formerly Friendly Islands, declares independence from U.K. 1967 Event Tonga revises constitution 1966 Death Tortoise, reportedly given to Tonga's King by Captain Cook (1773), dies 1965 Event Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, becomes King of Tonga 1959 Birthday Tonga, Uliuli Fifita, wrestler, WCW/WAR/WWF, Ming, Haku, Islanders 1918 Birthday Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, King of Tonga, 1965- 1900 Event Great Britain annexes Tonga archipelago 1900 Event Britain proclaims protectorate over kingdom of Tonga 1886 Event Declaration of Berlin neutralizes Tonga 1875 Event Tonga adopts constitution
