4004 BC: According to a 17th century vice-chancellor of Cambridge University, Archbishop James Usher, this is the day God created the world. Although there are 140 conflicting versions of the date, Usher's is the only one that matches the chronology of the authorised version of the Bible.

42 BC: Brutus, whose army was crushed by Anthony and Octavian at Philippi, committed suicide in Rome by falling on his own sword.

1642: The Royalists narrowly beat the Roundheads at Edgehill in the first major battle of the Civil War. Both sides claimed victory.

1942: The Battle of El Alamein began with a barrage of a thousand guns aimed on Italian and German troops.

1950: Al Jolson, US singer who billed himself "the world's greatest entertainer", died. He starred in the first talking picture, The Jazz Singer.

1956: The Hungarian uprising against Soviet leadership began in Budapest.

1987: Lester Piggott (below), ex-British champion jockey and later a top trainer, was jailed for three years for tax evasion.

1991: The House of Lords ruled that husbands could legally be convicted of raping their wives.

ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: The Home Secretary faced tough questioning from MPs over his proposed anti-terrorism laws and reform of the police.