ON DECEMBER 16…

IN 1653, Oliver Cromwell became Lord Protector of England, Scotland and Ireland after leading the Parliamentarian side to victory in the English Civil War.

IN 1773, American patriots threw 342 chests of tea belonging to the British East India Company into Boston Harbour to protest against a tea tax — in what became known as the Boston Tea Party.

IN 1955, the Queen opened new buildings at London Airport (now known as Terminal 2 at Heathrow).