1789 The first national US elections were held: George Washington became the first president.

1844 Saint Bernadette of Lourdes (Marie-Bernarde Soubirous) was born. She was an asthmatic French girl who claimed to see vision of the Virgin Mary at a spring near her home.

1857 The London Central Omnibus Company started its first services.

1921 The first woman was elected as foreman of a jury in Britain.

1927 The transatlantic telephone service between London and New York opened, charging £15 for three minutes.

1967 BBC1 began serialisation of The Forsyte Saga. It became compulsive viewing and resulted in clergymen changing the times of Sunday evening church services.

1989 Emperor Hirohito of Japan died, aged 87. He had reigned for more than 62 years.

1990 The leaning tower of Pisa was closed to the public for the first time in 807 years so work could begin to stop it leaning any further.

ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: Six north African men were arrested in Wood Green, north London by police investigating a terrorist poison plot. At one of the men's flats they found traces of ricin - a poison much more lethal than cyanide.