1855: Bread riots broke out in Liverpool.
1878: Thomas Edison patented the phonograph.
1897: The Women's Institute was founded at Stoney Creek, Ontario, by a Mrs Hoodless.
1897: French tightrope-walker Charles Blondin died.
1906: In America, William Kellogg formed the Battle Creek Toasted Corn Flake Company to make the breakfast cereal he invented as a health food for mental patients.
1912: Jazz bandleader Stan Kenton was born near Wichita, Kansas.
1942: The Japanese bombed the Australian city of Darwin.
1957: Emergency Ward 10, the first continuous TV series began on ITV - it was shown twice-weekly for 10 years.
1976: Iceland broke off diplomatic relations with Britain after the two countries failed to agree on limits in the "Cod War" fishing dispute.
1985: EastEnders began on BBC TV.
On this day last year: The cash-strapped, newly privatised air traffic control service vehemently denied it was in financial peril.
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