On this day ...

AUGUST 21

1754: William Murdoch, Scottish engineer, who with James Watt and Matthew Boulton, pioneered the use of coal-gas lighting in 1792, was born.

1765: William IV, known as the “sailor king” for his service in the Royal Navy, was born.

1911: Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre in Paris.

1930: Princess Margaret Rose, above, was born in Glamis Castle.

1940: Leon Trotsky, exiled Bolshevik leader who found asylum in Mexico, died after being struck several blows on the head with an ice pick wielded by Ramon Mercader, an agent for Stalin.

1959: Hawaii became the 50th state of the USA.

1962: Savannah, the world’s first nuclear-powered merchant ship, went on her maiden voyage.

1976: Mary Langdon, 25, joined East Sussex Fire Brigade to become Britain’s first female firefighter.

1988: Amended British licensing laws allowing more flexible pub opening hours came into force at midnight. Pubs could now stay open 12 hours in the day, except on Sunday. ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: Chester Zoo announced that rare miniature wallabies were set to go on show there. BIRTHDAYS: Kenny Rogers, country singer, 80; Dina Carroll, singer, 50; Liam Howlett, musician, 47; Chantelle Houghton, model/ television personality, 35; Usain Bolt, above, sprinter, 32; Hayden Panettiere, actress, 29.