ON THIS DAY

• 1754: Henry Fielding died, aged 47. Famous for his novel TomJones, it is not widely known that asa Justice ofthe Peace he organised a small London police force that became Scotland Yard.

• 1871: The Great Fire of Chicago started. According to popular belief, it started in Irish immigrant Catherine O’Leary’s barn in DeKoven Street, when a cowkicked over a lantern. Some historians believe itwasactually set off by Daniel“Pegleg” Sullivan, who first reported the fire. The fire burned until October 11, killing morethan 250peopleand making 95,000 homeless.

• 1908: TheWind In The Willows, Kenneth Grahame’s children’s book, was published. It has never beenoutofprint.

• 1952: A rail crash in Harrow left 112dead and nearly340 injured.

• 1965: The Post Office Tower in London became operational. Itwas opened by Prime Minister HaroldWilson.

• 1967: Thefirst breathalyser test in Britainwas administered to amotoristin Somerset.

• 1973: Thefirst commercial radio station in Britain opened when LBC (London Broadcasting) went on the air.

• ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR:

Ipswich Hospitalbrought in robot medical secretaries towork alongside its human staff, inwhat it claimed was a first for the NHS.

• BIRTHDAYS: (Baroness) Betty Boothroyd, former speaker of the House of Commons, 90; Ray Reardon, former snooker player, 87; Albert Roux, chef and restaurateur, 84; Rev Jesse Jackson, USpolitician, 78; Chevy Chase, actor, 76; SigourneyWeaver, actress, 70; Ardal O’Hanlon, actor and comedian, 54; Matt Damon, actor, 49.