1665: Queen Anne, last Stuart ruler, second daughter of James II, was born in London.

1685: The "merry monarch" Charles II died. His last words to his brother James were: "Don't let poor Nellie starve," - a reference to his favourite mistress Nell Gwynne.

1783: English landscape gardener Lancelot Capability' Brown died. Kew Gardens and the grounds at Blenheim Palace are examples of his work.

1788: Massachusetts became the sixth of the United States.

1838: Sir Henry Irving, English actor, was born in Somerset. He was the first actor to be knighted.

1918: The Representation of the Peoples Act received Royal Assent, granting the vote to women over 30.

1927: A boy violinist in short trousers, aged 10, caused a sensation in Paris when he and he performed Symphonie Espagnole. The child prodigy was Yehudi Menuhin.

1952: King George VI died during the night at Sandringham, aged 56. His daughter, on safari in Africa at the time, succeeded as Elizabeth II.

1958: Seven Manchester United footballers - Busby's Babes - were killed when their plane crashed in thick snow at Munich airport.

1983: Nazi fugitive Klaus Barbie was charged in Lyon, France, with crimes against humanity.

NATIONAL DAY OF NEW ZEALAND - Waitangi Day. The treaty between Britain and Maori chiefs signed on this day in 1840.

ACCESSION DAY - When the Union Flag is flown on government and public buildings from 8am to sundown.

ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: The Queen marked the 50th anniversary of her accession to the throne with a poignant visit to a cancer unit in memory of her father King George VI.

BIRTHDAYS: Ronald Reagan, former US President, 92; Zsa Zsa Gabor, actress, 83; Patrick MacNee, actor, 81; Denis Norden, broadcaster, 81; Keith Waterhouse, writer, 74; Rip Torn, actor, 72; Fred Trueman, broadcaster and former cricketer, 72; Jimmy Tarbuck, comedian, 63; Mike Batt, songwriter, 54; Natalie Cole, singer, 53; Kevin Whately, actor, 52; Axl Rose, rock singer, 41; Rick Astley, singer, 37.