On this day

1861:

z London’s first tram cars, drawn by horses, began operating from Bayswater, designed by a Mr Train from New York.

1919:

z In Italy, fascism became an organised political movement following the founding of Fasci di Combattimento by Benito Mussolini a month earlier.

1921:

z Donald Campbell, who emulated his father, Sir Malcolm, by breaking land and water-speed records, was born.

1971:

z Bangladesh, formerly East Pakistan, proclaimed its independence.

1981:

z Englishman Mike Hailwood, nine times world motor cycling champion, died two days after a car crash.

2001:

z The Mir space station was disposed of. It broke up in the atmosphere before falling into the Pacific near Fiji.