ON THIS DAY

1483:

The young Edward V acceded to the throne on the death of Edward IV. He was never crowned and disappeared, believed murdered, 75 days later.

1626:

Francis Bacon, philosopher and statesman, died – apparently killed by a chicken. He was trying to stuff it with snow as a method of preservation, caught a chill and died.

1806:

Isambard Kingdom Brunel, railway and marine engineer whose works included the Clifton suspension bridge and steamship Great Western, was born in Portsmouth.

1865:

Confederate General Robert E Lee surrendered to General Grant in Virginia, bringing the American Civil War to an end.

1906:

Labour politician Hugh Gaitskell was born in London. As Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1951, he introduced NHS charges, causing Aneurin Bevan, Minister of Health, to resign.

1945:

The USS Liberty exploded in Bari harbour, Italy, killing 360 people.

1969:

The first British-built Concorde 002 made its maiden flight from Filton to RAF Fairford.

1981:

The U.S. Navy nuclear submarine USS George Washington accidentally collided with the Nissho Maru, a Japanese cargo ship, sinking it.

1983:

Jenny Pitman became the first woman to train an English Grand National winner with Corbiere.

2003:

Baghdad fell to American forces, Iraqis pulled down a statue of former leader Saddam Hussein.

2005:

The Prince of Wales married Camilla Parker Bowles in a civil ceremony at Windsor’s Guildhall.

ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR:

The King, the Queen Consort and senior royals gathered at Windsor Castle for the first Easter Sunday service of Charles’s reign.

BIRTHDAYS:

Valerie Singleton, TV presenter, 87; Hannah Gordon, actress, 83; Alan Knott, former cricketer, 78; Dennis Quaid, actor, 70; Robbie Fowler, former footballer, 49; Rachel Stevens, pop singer, 46.

Jenny Pitman