On this day

632:

Mohammed, founder of the Islamic religion, died in Mecca.

1924:

George Mallory, on his third attempt at conquering Everest, was seen for the last time at a point 800ft from the summit.

1929:

Margaret Bondfield became the first British female cabinet minister when she was appointed Minister of Labour.

1968:

James Earl Ray, wanted for the murder of Martin Luther King, was arrested in London travelling under an assumed name with a Canadian passport.

1969:

Spain closed its frontier with Gibraltar, hoping to cripple its economy after Britain’s refusal to hand over the colony.

1978:

Naomi James arrived back at Dartmouth in her Express Crusader after 267 days, to become the first woman to sail around the world via Cape Horn.