On this day

1740: The Marquis de Sade, French aristocrat whose lifestyle gave rise to the word sadism, was born in Paris.

1840: Thomas Hardy, English novelist and poet, was born in Higher Bockhampton, Dorset, where his father was a stonemason. Most of his stories are based in Dorset (Wessex) and his dog was called Wessex.

1857: Composer Sir Edward Elgar was born in Broadheath, Worcestershire.

1868: The first Trades Union Congress was held in Manchester.

1896: Marconi patented his broadcasting system using electromagnetic waves.

1938: Robert and Edward Kennedy, youngest sons of the American ambassador to London, opened the children’s zoo in Regent’s Park. Children were charged sixpence to watch chimpanzees have a tea party.

1941: Clothes rationing was introduced in Britain and not lifted until 1949. Some 60 clothes coupons were allowed each year for all except baby clothes. One dress used 11 coupons, and a man’s suit took 26.

1946: Italy abolished its monarchy and became a republic.

1953: Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in Westminster Abbey on a dull, showery day, pictured. It was the first coronation to be televised.

1954: Lester Piggott, at 18, became the youngest jockey to win the Derby when he rode Never Say Die to victory at Epsom, pictured. The colt, a 33-1 outsider, won by two lengths.

1997: Timothy McVeigh was convicted on 15 counts of murder and conspiracy for his role in the 1995 Oklahoma bombing.

ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: Veterans arrived in Dover to board a ship chartered by the Royal British Legion ahead of commemorations to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day.