IT HAPPENED TODAY
The Battle of Hastings was fought at Senlac Hill, in Sussex, at which William of Normandy defeated Harold of England to claim the English throne.
Quaker leader William Penn — founder of the state of Pennsylvania — was born in London.
Dwight D Eisenhower (above) — “Ike” — Second World War military leader and 34th US president, was born in Dension, Texas.
The first performance of The Gaiety Girl, considered the first musical comedy, took place in London.
Britain’s worst pit disaster took place at Senghenydd, Glamorgan — 439 died after an explosion.
The Royal Navy battleship Royal Oak was torpedoed and sunk in Scapa Flow.
Rommel the “Desert Fox” took cyanide tablets and died within minutes — before he could be arrested for his part in the plot to kill Hitler.
Chuck Yeager in his Bell X-1 rocket plane became the first man to break the sound barrier.
The 50p decimal coin was first issued in Britain, replacing the 10 shilling note.
Five days after announcing his retirement through ill health, conductor Leonard Bernstein (above) died.
The NHS announced plans to clampdown on cheats who wrongly claim free prescriptions, as part of a drive to save millions of pounds a year.
Ralph Lauren, fashion designer, 80; Sir Cliff Richard (below), singer, 79; Christopher Timothy, actor, 79; Justin Hayward, singer/ musician, 73; Steve Cram (above), former athlete, 59; Steve Coogan, comedian/actor, 54; Michael Duberry, former footballer, 44; Shaznay Lewis, pop singer/songwriter, 44; Usher, R&B singer, 41.