On this day

Jack Cade, Irish-born physician, led an insurrection march of 40,000 through Kent to London to protest about laws of Henry VI. He was later beheaded. The Ladies’ Mercury, the first magazine for women, was published.

Fresh from defeat at Culloden, Bonnie Prince Charlie escaped over the sea to Skye, disguised as Irish maid Betty Burke, with Flora MacDonald.

Joseph Smith, American founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) in 1830, was killed in Carthage Jail in Illinois.

Mildred Hill, teacher and composer of Happy Birthday To You, was born. She wrote the song, originally called Good Morning To All, to brighten up morning assembly for children. The first nuclear power station opened at Obninsk in Russia. Britain’s first cash dispenser was opened by Barclay’s Bank in Enfield. The first national Scrabble competition was held in London and was won by Stephen Haskell. Six Palestinian terrorists hijacked an Air France Airbus from Athens and forced it to fly to Uganda.

The European Commission ordered the government to force British Aerospace to repay £44.4million of “sweeteners” tied to the sale of Rover Group.

The pound continued its steep slide against the dollar as concerns about the British economy deepened in the wake of Brexit.