On this day

Martin Luther, German religious reformer, was born in Eisleben.

George II was born in Hanover.

The US Marine Corps was founded. Henry Morton Stanley, sent to Africa by his newspaper to find Scottish missionary David Livingstone, finally made contact with him at Ujiji on Lake Tanganyika with the words: “Dr Livingstone, I presume.”

Edward Elgar conducted the first performance of his violin concerto, played by Fritz Kreisler, in the Queen’s Hall, London. Applause was described as worthy of the victory of the Battle of Trafalgar.

Hirohito was crowned Emperor of Japan. The Crown Prince, aged 27, had been regent for seven years before he took over as emperor from his sick father.

Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev died of a heart attack, aged 75.

George Bush, above, was elected US President.

In Calcutta, 95,000 people watched South Africa’s return to international cricket. They won by three wickets.

British au pair Louise Woodward, above, walked free from court when judge Hiller Zobel reduced her murder conviction to manslaughter.

A series of war memorials erected a century ago, before the end of the First World War, were given protected status. “I’ve never understood why if you live in Lancaster, you shouldn’t have access to the best theatre going. It’s a pity if theatre becomes only something you do on high days and holidays, and spend a fortune seeing the long-running musical” - Actor Sir Ian McKellen, above, who is embarking on an 80-day tour of regional theatres, including Orkney, to mark his 80th birthday.

“The smoking ban is really mean-spirited, but England is a bit now, I think. The press is mean-spirited. I don’t care about it now I’m 80. I just don’t go out much. I stay at home and smoke” - Artist David Hockney, saying France is more smoker-friendly than England.