IT HAPPENED TODAY
1429:
Henry VI (above) was crowned King of England. Two years later he was also crowned King of France in Paris.
1814:
Adolphe Sax, instrument inventor who gave his name to the saxophone, was born in Dinant, Belgium.
1892:
Pioneer aviator Sir John Alcock was born in Manchester.
1893:
Composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (below) died after drinking unboiled water in St Petersburg during a cholera epidemic.
1917:
The third battle of Ypres ended when British and Canadian troops captured Passchendaele Ridge.
The RAF’s first monoplane fighter, the Hawker Hurricane, made its maiden flight.
1942:
The Church of England relaxed its rule that women must wear hats in church.
1956:
A ceasefire was announced between Egyptian, British and French troops fighting for control of the Suez Canal.
1962:
The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution condemning South Africa’s racist apartheid policies and called for member states to cease military and economic relations with the nation.
1975:
Punk rockers The Sex Pistols played their first gig at St Martin’s College of Art in London.
ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR:
Nigel Farage warned there would be disturbances on the streets if Parliament attempts to thwart Brexit.
BIRTHDAYS:
PJ Proby, singer, 79; Sally Field, actress, 71; Ethan Hawke, actor, 47; Rebecca Romijn, former model and actress, 45; Thandie Newton , actress, 45; Nell McAndrew, model, 44; Emma Stone (below), actress, 29.