1796: Napoleon married society beauty Josephine de Beauharnais.

1917: The Russian Revolution began.

1932: Eamon de Valera became president of the Irish Free State.

1937: George Orwell's examination of life during the Depression in the north of England, The Road To Wigan Pier, was published.

1956: Britain deported Archbishop Makarios from Cyprus for "actively fostering terrorism".

1973: In a referendum boycotted by most Catholics, Northern Ireland voted in favour of staying in the UK by a majority of 90-1.

1981: John Lambe, the "M5 Rapist" who admitted 16 attacks, received 12 life sentences.

1990: Talks began on German reunification in Berlin.