1999
A US Air Force cargo plane dropped emergency medical supplies at the South Pole Research Centre for a doctor who had found a lump in her breast

1989
Death of Sir Laurence Olivier, multi-award-winning British actor and director, the greatest English-speaking actor of the 20th century

1979
The US space station Skylab returned to Earth after 6 years in space, showering debris over the Indian Ocean and Australia

1960
First publication of Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird.

1930

1906
Death of Grace Brown, murdered by her employers nephew Chester Gillette. To date 4 books and 2 films have been inspired by this crime.

1895

1859
A Tale Of Two Cities by Charles Dickens was published. (It was also available in monthly parts between April and November 1859)

1848
Waterloo Station London Opens

1834
Birth of James McNeill Whistler, American-born British artist

1708
War of Spanish Succession: the Battle of Oudenarde ends. The Duke of Marlborough’s allied forces defeated the French in Flanders.
1533
Henry VIII excommunicated by Pope Clement VII

1405
Zheng He, the great Chinese explorer of the Ming Dynasty, set sail of his first voyage of exploration.
