1686 Birth of Gabriel Daniel Fahrenheit, German physicist who invented the mercury thermometer.

1809 Dartmoor Prison was opened to house French prisoners of war. From 1850 it was used for convicts.

1819 Queen Victoria was born at Kensington Palace.

1862 London's Westminster Bridge opened.

1895 The first stage knighthood was conferred, on Sir Henry Irving.

1916 Conscription began in Britain.

1941 The German battleship Bismarck sank HMS Hood off Greenland with the loss of more than 1,400 lives.

1969 The Black And White Minstrel Show, at London's Victoria Palace, closed after 4,354 performances in seven years.

1974 Death of jazz musician, bandleader and composer Edward "Duke" Ellington.

1978 Princess Margaret's 18-year marriage to Lord Snowdon was ended by a special procedure divorce.

ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: Big Brother burst back on to Britain's television screens as Channel 4 aimed to repeat the success of the reality TV phenomenon.

BIRTHDAYS:

Bob Dylan, singer/songwriter, 62; Patti LaBelle, singer, 59; Dave Peacock, singer (Chas & Dave), 58; Priscilla Presley, actress, 58; Jim Broadbent, actor, 54; Alfred Molina, actor, 50; Rosanne Cash, country singer, 48; Kristin Scott Thomas, actress, 43; Simon Day, TV comedian, 41; Liz McColgan, former athlete, 39; Eric Cantona, former footballer, 37.