1791: The optical telegraph (semaphore machine) was unveiled in Paris.
1836: Texas was proclaimed a republic.
1882: Robert MacLean tried unsuccessfully to assassinate Queen Victoria at Windsor.
1930: Novelist DH Lawrence died in France of tuberculosis.
1958: A British team led by Vivian Fuchs completed the first crossing of the Antarctic, covering 2,158 miles from the Weddell Sea to the Ross Sea in 99 days.
1969: The French-built supersonic airliner Concorde made its maiden flight from Toulouse.
1970: Southern Rhodesia broke away from Britain and became a republic.
1986: The Queen signed the Australia Bill in Canberra, formally severing any Australian constitutional ties with Britain.
1988: A new political party was born when Liberals merged with the Social Democrats to form the Social and Liberal Democrats.
1994: Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean retired from competitive skating.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article