ON THIS DAY

1782: The 100-ton battleship HMS Royal George sank off Spithead with the loss of more than 900 lives. 1831: Michael Faraday demonstrated the production of electricity from magnetism with the first transformer. 1842: The Treaty of Nanking was signed, ending the Opium War (183942) between China and Britain, and ceding Hong Kong to Britain. 1882: England cricketers lost to Australia in England for the first time, and from an epitaph that appeared in the Sporting Times the word ‘’Ashes’’ came into being. 1885: The first motorcycle was patented by Gottlieb Daimler in Germany. 1895: The Rugby League was formed at a meeting in the George Hotel in Huddersfield, with 21 representatives of the leading Lancashire and Yorkshire Rugby Union clubs - the present title of ‘’Rugby League’’ was adopted in 1922. 1897: ‘’Chop-suey’’ (meaning ‘various things’), the most famous Chinese dish, was devised by a New York chef to appeal to Chinese and American tastes. 1930: The Rev William Spooner, who gave the world spoonerisms, died. 1966: The Beatles gave their last live concert performance in Candlestick ParkinSanFrancisco. 2005: Micael Schumacher won his 5th consecutive Formula One Drivers Championship. 2012: The London 2012 Paralympic Games started with a spectacular opening ceremony. BIRTHDAYS: Elliott Gould, actor, 78; Joel Schumacher, film director, 77; Chris Copping, musician, 71; Lenny Henry, actor/comedian, 58; Joe Swail, snooker player, 47; Lea Michele, actress/singer, 30, Liam Payne, singer, 23. QUOTES OF THE DAY: “I don’t want to hang around in a wheelchair in a nursing home. I don’t. I don’t want to be like that. I would take some pills and fly off” – X-Factor judge Louis Walsh, saying he would consider assisted suicide. “I worry. I haven’t sung in two years, really, how am I going to sound? Because I don’t go around the house singing. There is no singing any time. Unless I’m paid to sing” – Barbra Streisand. “I don’t want to do the men thing any more or get married. I’m just done with men. I may French-kiss someone but I’m not going to marry anyone. I don’t believe in marriage any more” - singer Britney Spears. “I refused hair-pieces and false eyelashes, but I don’t suppose they will offer you those” - Former Tory Minister Ann Widdecombe’s advice to new Strictly Come Dancing contestant Ed Balls. “Labour must be a party that fights for black, Asian and ethnic minority communities – and a diverse and united Britain” - Jeremy Corbyn.