1571: The Battle of Lepanto was fought, when Christian allied naval forces defeated the Ottoman Turks.

1799: The bell was salvaged from the Lutine, which sank off the coast of Holland. It was presented to Lloyd's of London. Known as the Lutine Bell, it has been rung ever since to mark a marine disaster.

1871: The Great Chicago Fire began, in which 250 were killed and 95,000 were made homeless.

1920: Oxford University admitted its first 100 women for full degrees.

1922: The first royal broadcast was made by the Prince of Wales, on 2LO, 11 days before it changed its named to the British Broadcasting Company.

1922: Marie Lloyd, English music hall entertainer, died aged 52, defying doctor's orders not to go on stage when unwell.

1932: The London Philharmonic Orchestra gave its first concert in the now demolished Queen's Hall in London, with Sir Thomas Beecham conducting.

1946: Woman's Hour was first broadcast, a daily programme of music, advice and entertainment for the home. Joan Griffiths was the first regular presenter. The thriller serial Dick Barton, Special Agent also started.

1959: Lunik III took the first pictures of the far side of the moon.

1986: A new British newspaper, The Independent, was published.

ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: British journalist Yvonne Ridley was freed by the Taliban.

It later emerged she had gone on a hunger strike after her request to phone her daughter had been refused.