IT HAPPENED TODAY
1850:
Sir Thomas Lipton, founder of Lipton’s grocery chain, who went from errand boy to millionaire by the age of 30, was born in Glasgow.
1857:
The Sepoy Rebellion broke out in Meerut, triggering the Indian Mutiny against British rule.
1869:
The first US transcontinental railroad was completed when the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railways were joined.
1940:
Neville Chamberlain resigned as prime minister and Winston Churchill (above) formed a coalition wartime government, saying: “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.”
1941:
The worst night of the London Blitz when the Houses of Parliament were damaged.
1941:
Rudolf Hess, Hitler’s deputy, parachuted into Scotland in an effort to negotiate a peace settlement, but was arrested and imprisoned for the remainder of the war.
Nelson Mandela (above) was inaugurated as the first black president of South Africa.
2002:
A passenger train travelling from London to Norfolk derailed at Potters Bar railway station in Hertfordshire. Seven people died.
ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR:
After officially opening a school in Northern Ireland, the Duchess of Cornwall joked she had never seen better behaved children.
BIRTHDAYS:
Barbara Taylor Bradford, novelist, 85; Lady Lucinda Lambton, TV presenter, 75; Graham Gouldman, songwriter, 72; Donovan, folk singer, 72; Maureen Lipman, actress, 72; Bono (Paul Hewson, below), rock singer (U2), 58; Linda Evangelista, model, 53; Jason Brooks, actor, 52; Jonathan Edwards, former Olympic gold medal winning triple jumper, 52; Sylvain Wiltord, former international footballer, 44.