ON THIS DAY
1850: Sir Thomas Lipton, founder of Lipton’s grocery chain, who went from errand boy to millionaire by the age of 30, was born in Glasgow. 1857: The Sepoy Rebellion broke out in Meerut, triggering the Indian Mutiny against British rule. 1869: The first US transcontinental railroad was completed when the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railways were joined. 1940: Neville Chamberlain resigned as prime minister and Winston Churchill formed a coalition wartime government, saying: “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.” 1941: The worst night of the London Blitz when the Houses of Parliament were damaged. 1941: Rudolf Hess, Hitler’s deputy, parachuted into Scotland in an effort to negotiate a peace settlement, but was arrested and imprisoned for the remainder of the war. 1994: Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as the first black president of South Africa. 2002: A passenger train travelling from London to Norfolk derailed at Potters Bar railway station in Hertfordshire. Seven people died. ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: New London mayor Sadiq Khan hit out at Donald Trump’s “ignorant” view of Islam after the US presidential hopeful suggested he would exempt him from his proposed ban on Muslims entering America. BIRTHDAYS: Barbara Taylor Bradford, novelist, 84; Lady Lucinda Lambton, TV presenter, 74; Graham Gouldman, songwriter, 71; Donovan, folk singer, 71; Maureen Lipman, actress, 71; Sly Dunbar, music producer, 65; Bono (Paul Hewson), rock singer (U2), 57; Linda Evangelista, model, 52; Jason Brooks, actor, 51; Jonathan Edwards, former triple jumper, 51; Sylvain Wiltord, former footballer, 43.