On this day ...

AUGUST 29

1831: Michael Faraday demonstrated the production of electricity from magnetism with the first transformer.

1842: The Treaty of Nanking was signed, ending the Opium War (1839-42) between China and Britain, and ceding Hong Kong to Britain.

1882: England cricketers lost to Australia in England for the first time, and from an epitaph that appeared in the Sporting Times the “Ashes” came into being.

1885: The first motorcycle was patented by Gottlieb Daimler in Germany.

1897: “Chop-suey” (meaning ‘various things’), the most famous Chinese dish, was devised by a New York chef.

1930: The Rev William Spooner, who gave the world spoonerisms, died.

1966: The Beatles gave their last live concert performance in Candlestick Park in San Francisco.

2005: Michael Schumacher, above, won his 5th consecutive Formula One Drivers Championship.

2012: The London 2012 Paralympic Games started with a spectacular opening ceremony.

ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: Members of the Brazilian football team that was devastated by a plane crash in the mountains of Colombia the previous year met with Pope Francis at the Vatican.

BIRTHDAYS: Elliott Gould, actor, 80; Joel Schumacher, film director, 79; Chris Copping, musician, 73; Lenny Henry, actor/ comedian, above, 60; Joe Swail, snooker player, 49; Liam Payne, singer, 25.