ON THIS DAY

National days of Nigeria and China

1843: The News of the World was first published.

1868: The Midland Railway opened St Pancras station in London.

1880: The Edison Lamp Works began operations in New Jersey to manufacture the first electric light bulbs.

1890: Master of the monologue Stanley Holloway was born in London.

1908: Henry Ford introduced the model T car at a price of 850 dollars. Within 18 years, production techniques reduced that to 300 dollars. He is rumoured to have told customers: ‘You can have any colour you want as long as it’s black.’

1918: Arab forces under Emir Faisal, and including British officer TE Lawrence, captured Damascus from the Turks.

1962: Two people died and at least 75 were injured in rioting following the admission of the first black student – James Meredith – to the University of Mississippi.

1969: Concorde 001 broke the sound barrier for the first time during a test flight in France.

1985: Police closed off areas of Liverpool and London (Toxteth and Peckham) after riots erupted.

2004: Prime minister Tony Blair underwent heart surgery.

ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR:

A helicopter was brought in to help people trapped in houses on the Isle of Man, after a river burst its banks causing ‘horrendous conditions’.

BIRTHDAYS: Jimmy Carter, former US president, 96; Dame Julie Andrews, actress and singer, 85; Stephen Collins, actor, 73; Randy Quaid, actor, 70; Theresa May, former Prime Minister, 64; Harry Hill, comedian, 56; Phil de Glanville, former rugby player, 52; Keith Duffy, actor and singer, 46.