ON THIS DAY
117:
Hadrian became Emperor of Rome. His reign ended in 138 when he died due to ill health.
1834:
The Poor Law Amendment Act was passed, abandoning the system of outdoor relief by which parishes looked after their poor and replacing it with the workhouse.
1876:
Frank Richards, author and creator of fat schoolboy Billy Bunter, was born in London as Charles Hamilton.
1900:
The Davis Cup for tennis was contested for the first time at Brookline, Massachusetts, and won by USA.
1940:
The Battle of Britain began as the German Luftwaffe was ordered to gain aerial superiority over the RAF.
1958:
Richard.
1963:
The Great Train Robbery took place at Sears Crossing, Buckinghamshire, when a gang of 15 men, including Ronnie Biggs and Buster Edwards, stole more than £2.6 million.
Columbia Records signed up a 17-year-old singer called Cliff 1974:
Richard Nixon announced his resignation as US president, the first to do so, because of his implication in the Watergate scandal.
1991:
Hostage John Mccarthy came home, five years and three months after being kidnapped and held hostage in Beirut.
2008:
The opening ceremony of the Olympics took place in Beijing at the ‘Bird’s Nest’ Stadium.
ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR:
More than one fifth (23%) of people said live streaming and music was the biggest support to their mental health through lockdown, new figures suggested.
BIRTHDAYS:
Dustin Hoffman, actor, 85; Connie Stevens, actress and singer, 84; Keith Carradine, actor, 73; Nigel Mansell, former racing driver, 69; The Edge (David Evans), rock guitarist (U2), 61; Angus Fraser, former cricketer, 57; Chris Eubank, former boxer, 56; Princess Beatrice of York, 34.