1999
The last total solar eclipse of the 20th century was visible from parts of mainland Britain, and was witnessed by around 350m people worldwide
Great Britain
1984
There was controversy in the womens 3,000 metres final at the Los Angeles Olympics when American favourite Mary Decker and South-African-born British athlete Zola Budd collided and Decker crashed out of the race. (The question of who was to blame has neve
United States
1968
The last regular steam passenger train service ran in Britain .
Great Britain
1960
Chad became independent
Chad
1937
Death of Edith Wharton
United States
1934
The first federal prisoners arrived at Alcatraz prison in San Francisco Bay
United States
1929
American baseball star Babe Ruth became the first player to hit 500 home runs in his career
United States
1919
The Weimar Republic was established in Germany
Germany
1919
Death of Andrew Carnegie, steel magnate and philanthropist
United States
1909
The SS Arapahoe became the first American ship to transmit the SOS distress signal when it lost its propeller off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. (See 10th June 1909 for the first use of SOS globally)
United States
1890
Death of John Henry Newman, theologian and Cardinal
Great Britain
1875
The Last public hanging in Britain when Joseph Phillip Le Brun was executed for murder on the island of Jersey
Great Britain
1858
The first ascent of the Eiger was made by Irish mountaineer Charles Barrington and Swiss guides Christian Almer and Peter Bohren.
Ireland
1858
Birth of Christiaan Eijkman, Dutch physician, Nobel Prize winner .
Netherlands
1737
Birth of Joseph Nollekens, sculptor
Great Britain
1711
First race meeting at Ascot
Great Britain
1587
Raleigh's second expedition to New World lands in North Carolina – first child born in the New World of English parents was Virginia Dare (Aug 18)
Great Britain
1494
Death of Hans Memling, artist
Belgium