ON THIS DAY

> Birthdays: From left, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Sir Alex Ferguson and Alex Salmond

NEW YEAR’S EVE – HOGMANAY IN SCOTLAND 1687: The first Huguenots set sail from France for South Africa to escape religious persecution. 1695: A window tax was imposed in Britain which resulted in many being bricked up. 1720: Charles Edward Stuart – Bonnie Prince Charlie, the “Young Pretender” – was born in Rome. As leader of the Scottish Jacobites, he attempted to depose George II, but was finally defeated at Culloden. 1911: Marie Curie received her second Nobel prize, unprecedented in the history of the award.

1923: The chimes of Big Ben were broadcast by the BBC for the first time.

1935: Charles Darrow patented his board game Monopoly.

1938: Dr RN Harger’s “Drunkometer” was officially used to breathalyse drivers by the Indianapolis Police Department. 1940: Firewatching became compulsory in wartime Britain. 1960: The farthing ceased to be legal tender.

1981: Former flight lieutenant Jerry Rawlings overthrew the government of President Hilla

Limann to seize power in Ghana. 1999: First President of Russia, Boris Yeltsin, resigns from office, leaving Prime Minister Vladimir Putin as his successor.

2014: John Fortune, the comedian made famous on Bremner, Bird and Fortune, died at the age of 74. BIRTHDAYS: Sir Anthony Hopkins, actor, 83; Sir Alex Ferguson, former football manager, 79; Sarah Miles, actress, 79; Andy Summers, rock guitarist, 78; Sir Ben Kingsley, actor, 77; Alex Salmond, former Scottish First Minister, 66; Val Kilmer, actor, 61; Steve Bruce, football manager, 60.