1860: The first weather forecast appeared in The Times.

1870: Emperor Napoleon III, nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte, was deposed and the Third Republic declared in France.

1885: The world's first cafeteria opened in New York.

1886: Geronimo, Apache chief and leader of the last great American Red Indian rebellion, surrendered in Arizona to General Nelson Miles.

1909: The first Boy Scout rally took place in Crystal Palace, London.

1939: The British liner Athenia was sunk by a German submarine off the coast of Ireland.

1964: The Forth road bridge, 6,156ft long and with a centre span of 3,300ft, was opened by the Queen.

1965: Albert Schweitzer, French medical missionary, died aged 90 in Gabon, the village where he had opened his hospital for natives.

1970: Russian ballerina Natalia Makarova defected to the West during a visit to London by the Kirov Ballet.

1989: Georges Simenon, creator of detective Maigret, died in Switzerland.

ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: Home Secretary David Blunkett promised to "try to get a grip" on the refugee crisis in talks with his French counterpart.

BIRTHDAYS: Dave Bassett, football manager, 58; Bill Kenwright, theatrical impresario, 57; Tom Watson, golfer, 53; Damon Wayans, actor, 42; Kevin Kennedy, actor, 41; Noah Taylor, actor, 33; Ione Skye, actress, 32; Beyonce Knowles, singer (Destiny's Child), 21.