On this day

The first tram service in Britain opened, at Birkenhead on Merseyside.

1860:

Lord Rutherford, pioneer of subatomic physics, was born in Spring Grove, New Zealand. In the 1920s he was the first to split the atom.

The first stereo system was patented by Clement Ader of Germany, for a telephonic broadcasting service. Scotsman Hubert Cecil Booth patented the vacuum cleaner.

1871: 1881: 1901: 1939:

The great evacuation of children from British cities began. Thousands of youngsters were moved to the country.

1963:

The “Hotline” between the US president and the Soviet premier was established to reduce the risk of an accidental nuclear war.

1993:

France’s Eiffel Tower received it’s 150,000,000 millionth visitor.