1862 – The death of Sir James Clark Ross, English polar explorer who has the Ross Barrier, Sea and Island named after him.

1888 – The first of 11 brutal murders of women occurred in or near the impoverished Whitechapel district in the East End of London. The crimes remain unsolved to this day. At various points some or all of the killings were ascribed to the notorious, unidentified serial killer known as Jack the Ripper.

1895 – The trial of the libel case instigated by Oscar Wilde began, eventually resulting in his imprisonment on charges of homosexuality.

1901 – The death of the British Impresario Richard D’Oyly Carte, founder of the Savoy Theatre and Hotel and manager of the Gilbert & Sullivan opera company.

1913 – English suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst was sentenced to 3 years in prison for inciting supporters to place explosives at the London home of British politician David Lloyd George. The Home Secretary banned all future public meetings of suffragettes.

1929 – RMS Queen Mary was ordered from John Brown & Company Shipbuilding and Engineering by Cunard Line. She was the flagship of the Cunard Line from May 1936 until October 1946 when she was replaced by Queen Elizabeth. She also held the ‘Blue Riband’ fastest Atlantic crossing award from 1936 to 1937 and then from 1938 to 1952 when she was beaten by the new SS United States.

1933 – Everest was conquered for the first time by plane when 2 specially built British planes made aviation history by flying over the summit. The pilots were the Marquis of Douglas and Clydesdale and Flight Lieutenant David McIntyre.

1954 – Oxford won the 100th Boat Race in rough conditions on the River Thames.

1981 – Mobs of youths went on the rampage in Brixton, South London, throwing petrol bombs and looting shops. Police harassment over a long period was given as the cause.

1987 – The jewels of the late Duchess of Windsor, (the former Mrs Wallis Simpson who married Edward VIII of England after his abdication in 1936), fetched more than £31 million at auction, six times more than the expected figure.

1993 – The Grand National was declared void after a series of events at the start reduced the world-famous horse race to a shambles. 30 of the 39 riders failed to realise a false start had been called and set off around the racetrack, completing both laps of the course and passing the finish line before they realised their mistake.

2000 – A controversial plan to give asylum seekers vouchers instead of cash came into force.

2014 – A 25 year old student was fined and given penalty points after he was caught driving a car with all 4 doors removed, along with the headlights, front and rear indicators, bonnet, grille, and rear brake lights which he had removed to sell on-line. He had been attempting to take the car to a recycling centre five miles from his home in Nottinghamshire, to sell for scrap.