ON THIS DAY
1356:
The English, led by Edward, the Black Prince, defeated the French at the Battle of Poitiers in the Hundred Years’ War.
George Cadbury was born in Birmingham. He expanded his father’s chocolate business and established a model village for his workers at Bourneville.
The first carpet-sweeper was patented by Melville Bissell of Grand Rapids in Michigan.
James Abram Garfield, 20th US president, died of wounds suffered when he was shot in July.
The world’s first beauty contest took place in Spa, Belgium.
The first cartoon talking picture, Walt Disney’s Steamboat Willie, featuring Mickey Mouse, was shown in New York.
Wartime traitor William Joyce - Lord Haw-Haw - was sentenced to be hanged after his trial at the Old Bailey.
Chubby Checker’s The Twist – a cover of an original Hank Ballard song – entered the US charts and launched a dance craze.
The first episode of Fawlty Towers was broadcast by the BBC.
More than 20,000 people died when an earthquake
1839: 1876: 1881: 1888: 1928: 1945: 1960: 1975: 1985:
devastated large areas Of Mexico City.
ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR:
An artificial muscle that lifts 1,000 times its own weight could pave the way for lifelike robots that make Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Terminator look puny, developers announced.
BIRTHDAYS:
David McCallum, actor, 85; Zandra Rhodes, fashion designer, 78; Kate Adie, television reporter, 73; Jeremy Irons, actor, 70; Twiggy (Lesley Hornby), model/actress, 69; Daniel Lanois, singer and music producer, 67; Nile Rodgers, songwriter and music producer, 66.