On this day

1633: Samuel Pepys, diarist, was born in Fleet Street, London, the son of a tailor.

1685: George F Handel was born in Halle, Saxony. He settled in England and became court composer to George II.

1821: John Keats, English poet famous for his odes, died of tuberculosis in Rome, aged 25. 1836: The Mexican army laid siege to the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas.

1863: British explorers John Speke and JA Grant announced the discovery of the Nile’s source.

1920: The first regular broadcasting service in Britain started from Marconi’s studio in Chelmsford. 1950: Election results were first televised.