1643: In the English Civil War, the Cavaliers scored an early success with victory over the Roundheads at Roundway Down.

1793: Jean Paul Marat, French revolutionary leader, was stabbed to death by Charlotte Corday while in his bath.

1837: Queen Victoria moved into Buckingham Palace, the first monarch to live there.

1922: The France II, the world's largest sailing vessel, was wrecked off the coast of New Caledonia.

1930: The first World Cup football tournament kicked off in Uruguay.

1939: Frank Sinatra made his first record, From The Bottom Of My Heart, with the Harry James Band.

1947: Europe accepted Marshall Aid, the US financial package to help recovery after the Second World War.

1951: Composer Arnold Schoenberg died in Los Angeles. As he was born on September 13, 1874, and was superstitious, he always said he would die on his 76th birthday because seven plus six equalled 13. He died on Friday 13 July 1951, at 13 minutes to midnight, in his 76th year.

1955: Nightclub hostess Ruth Ellis became the last woman hanged in Britain when the sentence for the murder of her lover David Blakely was carried out at Holloway Prison.

1973: The Everly Brothers parted on stage in California when Phil smashed his guitar and stormed off, leaving Don to finish the gig.

LAST YEAR: A governing council bringing together prominent Iraqis from all walks of life was named - a first step on the nation's path to democracy.