1741 A weary Handel finished his Messiah, 24 days after he had started it.

1812 Napoleon entered Moscow, which had been abandoned by the Russians and their scorched earth policy.

1852 The Duke of Wellington, English military commander, the "Iron Duke", victor at Waterloo, statesman and Tory Prime Minister, died aged 83 at Walmer Castle in Kent.

1891 The first penalty kick in an English League football game was taken by Heath of Wolverhampton Wanderers against Accrington.

1927 Isadora Duncan, the American dancer, was strangled by her scarf in Nice when the fringe caught in the wheel of her Bugatti sports car.

1974 Chia-Chia and Ching-Ching, giant pandas, arrived at London Zoo.

1982 Princess Grace died in Monaco's hospital without regaining consciousness after a car crash the previous day.

ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: The UK fell silent for three minutes as the nation mourned the victims of the US terrorist attacks.

BIRTHDAYS: Amanda Barrie, actress, 67; Walter Koenig, actor, 66; Sir Angus Ogilvy, husband of Princess Alexandra, 64; Nicol Williamson, actor, 64; Sam Neill, actor, 55; Ray Wilkins, football coach, 46; Mary Crosby, actress, 43; Morten Harket, singer, 43; Kimberly Williams, actress, 31.