NATIONAL DAY OF SYRIA

1421 More than 100,000 drowned when the sea broke through the dykes at Dort in Holland.

1521 Martin Luther was excommunicated by the Diet of Worms.

1860 The first world title fight took place near Farnborough, Hants, when Tom Sayers took on American John Heenan. After 42 rounds, the match was declared a draw.

1937 A British attendance record at a football match was set when 149,547 people watched Scotland v England at Hampden Park, Glasgow.

1956 Premium Bonds were introduced by Chancellor Harold Macmillan.

1960 American rock star Eddie Cochran died in a car crash near Chippenham while on tour with Gene Vincent, pictured.

1961 An attempt by Cuban exiles and US forces to invade Cuba at the Bayof Pigs, and overthrow Castro's Communist regime, was repulsed.

1963 In Moscow, British businessman Greville Wynne was accused of spying. He was found guilty and sentenced to three years in prison and five in a labour camp.

1980 Rhodesia became the independent nation of Zimbabwe.

1984 WPc Yvonne Fletcher was shot dead outside the Libyan People's Bureau in London.

ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: Chancellor Gordon Brown finally confirmed Budget tax rises as a Treasury-commissioned report warned spending on the National Health Service would have to more than double over the next 20 years.

BIRTHDAYS: James Last, bandleader, 74; Clare Francis, yachtswoman/novelist, 57; Henry Kelly, DJ and game show host, 57; Jan Hammer, composer, 54; Olivia Hussey, actress, 51; Pete Shelley, singer/guitarist (Buzzcocks), 47; Nick Hornby, novelist, 46; Sean Bean, actor, 44; Muttiah Muralitharan, cricketer, 30; Victoria Beckham, pop star, 29.