IT HAPPENED TODAY
1697:
The first Sunday service was held in the new St Paul’s Cathedral.
1766:
James Christie, founder of the famous auctioneers, held his first sale in London.
1791:
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (above), Austrian composer, died and was reportedly buried in an unmarked grave with other paupers.
1872:
The American brig Mary Celeste was found drifting in the Atlantic, her crew missing.
1901:
Walt Disney (below), cartoon film producer, was born in Chicago.
1933:
Prohibition ended in America after 14 years.
1945:
Five US Navy bombers disappeared over an area which became known as the Bermuda Triangle.
1952:
Smog enveloped London and killed more than 4,000 people in less than a week.
1958:
The Preston by-pass, Britain’s first section of motorway (the M1, eight-and-a-half miles long) was officially opened by Prime Minister Harold Macmillan.
2003:
Coldplay lead vocalist Chris Martin wed actress Gwyneth Paltrow at the San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, California.
2006:
Audrey Hepburn’s Givenchy little black dress from film Breakfast at Tiffany’s is auctioned for charity for a record £467,200 at Christie’s, London.
ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR:
Twitter revealed that a man’s quest for free chicken nuggets was the most retweeted post of 2017 in the UK.
BIRTHDAYS:
Little Richard (above), rock ‘n’ roll star, 86; Jose Carreras, tenor, 72; Morgan Brittany, actress, 67; Lee Chapman, former footballer/ restaurateur, 59; Carlton Palmer, former footballer, 53; Ronnie O’Sullivan, snooker player, 43; Paula Patton, actress, 43; Jessica Pare, actress, 38.