On this day ...

OCTOBER 20

1632: Sir Christopher Wren, the architect whose work includes St Paul’s Cathedral and Chelsea Hospital, was born in East Knoyle, Wiltshire.

1818: The 49th parallel was established by USA and Britain as the boundary between Canada and USA.

1822: Thomas Hughes, author of Tom Brown’s Schooldays, was born at Uffington, Berkshire.

1944: General MacArthur returned to the Philippines as their liberator, fulfilling a promise he made when his forces retreated from the Japanese.

1960: DH Lawrence’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover put Penguin Books in the dock at the Old Bailey, accused under the Obscene Publications Act. It was found not guilty.

1973: The Sydney Opera House was opened by the Queen.

2011: Muammar Gaddafi, above, who ruled Libya for 42 years, was captured and killed as rebel troops overran the last pockets of resistance in his hometown of Sirte.

ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: An “outstanding” rare watercolour by artist and architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh had been secured for the nation, it was revealed.

BIRTHDAYS: Timothy West, actor, 84; Mark King, musician (Level 42), 60; Viggo Mortensen, actor, 60; Mark Little, actor/comedian, 59; Ian Rush, former footballer and pundit, above, 57; Allan Donald, former cricketer, 52; Dannii Minogue, TV personality/ singer, 47; Jess Glynne, 29.