1483: The young Edward V acceded to the throne on the death of Edward IV. He was never crowned and disappeared, believed murdered, 75 days later.

1626: Francis Bacon, philosopher and statesman, died - apparently killed by a chicken. He was trying to stuff it with snow as a method of preservation, caught a chill and died.

1806: Isambard Kingdom Brunel, railway and marine engineer whose works included the Clifton suspension bridge and steamship Great Western, was born in Portsmouth.

1838: The National Gallery in Trafalgar Square, London, was opened.

1865: Confederate General Robert E Lee surrendered to General Grant in Virginia, bringing the American Civil War to an end.

1898: Paul Robeson, actor and singer, was born in New Jersey. He is best known for his singing of Ol' Man River in Jerome Kern's Show Boat, and his committment to left-wing politics.

1906: Labour politician Hugh Gaitskell was born in London. As Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1950 he introduced NHS charges, causing Aneurin Bevan, Minister of Health, to resign.

1940: Germany invaded Norway and Denmark.

1945: The USS Liberty exploded in Bari harbour, Italy, killing 360 people.

1983: Jenny Pitman became the first woman to train an English Grand National winner with Corbiere.

ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: A shower of flowers rained down on the Queen Mother's hearse as she made her final journey past up to one million well-wishers to her interment at St George's Chapel, Windsor.

BIRTHDAYS: Vincent O'Brien, racehorse trainer, 86; Hugh Hefner, publisher, 77; Jean-Paul Belmondo, actor, 70; Valerie Singleton, TV presenter, 66; Hannah Gordon, actress, 62; Alan Knott, former cricketer, 57; Dennis Quaid, actor, 49; Severiano Ballesteros, golfer, 46; Paulina Porizkova, model and actress, 38; Jacques Villeneuve, racing driver, 32; Robbie Fowler, footballer, 28; Rachel Stevens, pop singer (S Club), 25.