ON THIS DAY

1735: Sir Robert Walpole becomes first British prime minister to occupy 10 Downing St, London.

1914: In World War I, German U-boats sink the British cruisers Aboukir, Hogue and Cressy in the North Sea, killing more than 1400.

1918: First direct wireless message transmitted from Britain to Australia is received in Sydney.

1951: Australians, in a referendum, vote against banning the Communist Party.

1980: Iraq invades Iran, triggering start of the Gulf War.

1996: In Australia, cancer victim Bob Dent becomes first man in world to commit legally assisted suicide under a voluntary euthanasia law.

2006: Pope Benedict XVI invites Muslim envoys to meet with him.

Australian prime minister Ben Chifley (1885-1951); Australian musician Nick Cave (1957-); Australian soccer player Harry Kewell (1978-).