On this day ...

1157: King Richard I was born in Oxford, third son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. He was later known as Richard the Lionheart. Although he reigned for nearly 10 years, he was only in England twice – a grand total of 160 days. He was away mostly on crusades.

1504: Michaelangelo unveiled his statue of David, above, in Florence.

1664: The Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam was seized by the English and re-named New York, in honour of James, Duke of York, the future King James II.

1888: The first English Football League matches were played.

1888: The body of Jack the Ripper’s second murder victim, Annie Chapman, was found in London.

1944: The first German V2 flying bombs fell in Britain.

1966: The Severn Bridge was officially opened by the Queen.

1966: Landmark American science fiction television series Star Trek premieres with its first-aired episode, The Man Trap. The franchise is still going strong today.

ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: The UK’s second of a new generation of aircraft carriers was formally named after the Prince of Wales, signalling ‘a new era’ in the Royal Navy’s history.

BIRTHDAYS: Michael Frayn, writer, 85; Anne Diamond, journalist/TV presenter, 64; Victor Ubogu, former rugby union player, 54; David Arquette, actor, 47; Martin Freeman, above, actor, 47; Richard Hughes, musician (Keane), 43; Pink, pop singer, 39.