ON THIS DAY

■ 1394: Prince Henry the Navigator, who sponsored Portugal’s voyages of discovery, was born in Oporto.

■ 1678: Antonio Lucio Vivaldi, composer and violinist, best known for The Four Seasons (1725), was born in Venice.

■ 1789: The first Congress of the United States was held in New York.

■ 1824: The Royal National Lifeboat Institution was founded.

■ 1890: The 1,710-foot Forth Bridge was officially opened by the Prince of Wales.

■ 1924: Happy Birthday To You was published by Clayton F Summy.

■ 1941: British forces, assisted by local Norwegians, raided the German-occupied Lofoten Islands, destroying 11 ships.

■ 1946: Housewives’ Choice, presented by Robert McDermott, began on BBC radio.

■ 1967: North Sea gas was first piped ashore near Durham.

■ 1969: At the Old Bailey, gangland twins Ronald and Reginald Kray were found guilty of murder and given life sentences.

■ 1974: After the General Election, Edward Heath failed to persuade the Liberals to join a coalition and resigned. Harold Wilson became Prime Minister of a minority administration, which lasted for eight months until fresh elections secured a Labour majority.

■ 1980: Robert Mugabe became the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, winning 57 of the 80 black seats in the 100-member Assembly.

■ 1989: Six people were killed in a rail crash in Purley, Surrey.

■ ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: An analysis report found that climate change made the weather conditions that fuelled Australia’s devastating wildfires more likely.

■ BIRTHDAYS: Adrian Lyne, film director, 80; Shakin’ Stevens, singer/songwriter, 73; James Ellroy, novelist, 73; Kenny Dalglish, former football manager, 70; Chris Rea, rock musician, 70; Tim Vine, comedian, 54; Evan Dando, rock singer, 54; Patsy Kensit, actress, 53; Brooklyn Beckham, son of David and Victoria, 22.

■ The recycled paper content of UK newspapers in 2016 was 62.8%