IT HAPPENED TODAY
1675:
Greenwich Observatory was established by King Charles II, who laid the foundation stone.
1787:
Mozart (above) completed his famous Eine Kleine Nachtmusik. On the same day in 1788, he finished his Jupiter Symphony.
1842:
The Mines Act was passed by the British Parliament, forbidding women and children to work underground.
1889:
The screw top bottle was patented by Dan Rylands of Hope Glass Works, Barnsley.
1897:
The Royal Automobile Club was founded, under the name of The Automobile Club of Great Britain.
1949:
‘Acid bath’ murderer John Haigh, who confessed to nine killings, was executed at Wandsworth Prison.
Sir Gordon Richards, (above) champion English jockey, retired after 4,869 wins.
1961:
Britain first applied for membership of the EEC.
1990:
The Magellan space probe reached Venus.
2010:
Archaeologists announced that they had discovered Britain’s earliest house at Star Carr, near Scarborough, believed to date back to 8,500 years BC.
ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR:
It was announced that CCTV was to become mandatory in all slaughterhouses in England under plans to safeguard animal welfare and reassure consumers.
BIRTHDAYS:
Ian Anderson, rock singer (Jethro Tull), 71; Patti Austin, singer and actress, 68; Rosanna Arquette, actress, 59; Antonio Banderas, actor, 58; Charlie Dimmock, (above) TV gardening expert, 52; Roy Keane, former footballer, football manager, 47; Lawrence Dallaglio, former English rugby captain, 46.