News

1508 - Pope Julius II excommunicated the entire population of Venice.

1789 - George Washington became the first President of the United States.

1770 - James Cook landed at Botany Bay.

1932 - The Irish Parliament dropped their oath of loyalty to the British king.

1945 - The German army in Italy surrendered to the Allies.

1968 - Abortion was legalised in Britain.

1973 - The Watergate Scandal erupted when four of Nixon's aides resigned.

1981 - Peter Sutcliffe confessed to being the Yorkshire Ripper.

2004 - Photographs of Iraqi prisoners apparently being abused by US troops were shown on TV channel CBS. More images later emerged.

Sport

1933 - Everton won the FA Cup. It was the first match in which players wore numbered shirts. Everton wore numbers 1-11, and their opponents, Manchester City, wore 12-22.

1990 - Stephen Hendry became the youngest holder of the World Snooker Championship at the age of 21, when he beat Jimmy White 18-12 in the final.

2005 - Chelsea won the Premiership 2-0 to Bolton, their first top-flight crown in 50 years.

Entertainment

1749 - The first official performance of Handel's 'Music for the Royal Fireworks' finished early, due to the outbreak of fire.

1972 - Clint Eastwood's 'Dirty Harry' had its UK premiere.

2000 - Anne Robinson became the highest-paid celebrity on British television, after making £1 million from 'The Weakest Link'.

Music

1983 - Paul McCartney was ordered to give blood to a West German court considering a paternity case.

2003 - A four-inch strand of one of Bob Marley's dreadlocks fetched £2,585 at a pop memorabilia auction in London.

2006 - Rapper Snoop Dogg was arrested after he and his entourage went on the rampage at Heathrow. They were abusive to staff and smashed up a duty-free shop.

Number ones

2005 Axel F: 'Crazy Frog'.

2001 S Club 7: 'Don't Stop Movin''.

1999 Westlife: 'Swear It Again'.

1998 Boyzone: 'All That I Need'.

1988 S'Express: 'Theme From S'Express'.

1978 The Bee Gees: 'Night Fever'.