On this day

1632: Sir Christopher Wren, architect whose work includes St Paul’ s Cathedral and Chelsea Hospital, was born in East Knoyle, Wiltshire.

1818: The 49 th parallel was established by USA and Britain as the boundary between Canada and USA.

1890: Explorer Sir Richard Burton died. Not only did he write 43 travel books but he was an accomplished swords man and spoke 20 languages.

1960: DH Lawrence’s Lady Chatter ley’ s Lover put Penguin Books in the dock at the Old Bailey, accused under the Obscene Publications Act. It was found notguilty.

1973: The Sydney Opera House was opened by the Queen.

2011: Muammar Gaddafi, who ruled Libya for 42 years, was captured and killed as rebel troops over ran the last pockets of loyalist resistance in his hometown of Sir te.