News

1807 - The British parliament abolished the slave trade.

1930 - The Turkish cities of Angora and Constantinople changed their names to Ankara and Istanbul respectively.

1934 - Driving tests were introduced in Britain.

1957 - The European Common Market was formed, incorporating France, West Germany, Luxembourg, Italy, Belgium and Holland.

1971 - Charles Manson and three of his 'family' were sentenced to death.

1973 - The last American troops left Vietnam.

1977 - Disaster struck in Tenerife when a KLM flight flew into a Pan Am flight in thick fog. 574 passengers were killed.

1999 - The computer virus 'Melissa' was reported for the first time.

Sport

1877 - Goal nets were used for the first time in an FA Cup Final.

1922 - Eric Cantona was sentenced to two weeks in jail following an assault on a spectator at Crystal Palace.

1966 - Pickles the dog became a national hero when he found the World Cup Jules Rimet trophy, which had been stolen the previous week.

2002 - Cricketer Ben Hollioake was killed in a car crash in Perth, Australia. The 24-year-old had been at the wheel of his Porsche when it crashed into a brick wall.

Entertainment

1971 - The word OK was used for the first recorded time in print in the Boston Morning Post.

1990 - Daniel Day Lewis won a Best Actor Oscar for 'My Left Foot'.

1996 - 'The Dandy' announced that Desperate Dan was giving up his cow-pie only diet and eating other foods in response to the beef crisis and mad cow disease.

Music

1827 - 10,000 mourners attended Beethoven's funeral.

1964 - The Beatles made their first appearance on 'Top of the Pops' with 'Can't Buy Me Love'.

1973 - Elvis Presley set a new UK record of three consecutive number one singles - 'It's Now Or Never', 'Are You Lonesome Tonight?' and 'Wooden Heart'.

Number ones

2006 - Ne*Yo: 'So Sick'.

2002 - Gareth Gates: 'Unchained Melody'.

2000 - Melanie C feat. Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes: 'Never Be The Same Again'.

1999 - B*Witched: 'Blame It On The Weatherman.'

1993 - 2 Unlimited: 'No Limit'.

1988 - Aswad: 'Don't Turn Around'.

1968 - The Beatles: 'Lady Madonna'.