490BC: The original Marathon was won by a breathless messenger who ran 24 miles from the scene of the Battle of Marathon to the city of Athens. "Rejoice, we conquer," he gasped - then dropped dead.

23 King Wenceslaus of Bohemia, Good King Wenceslas of the Christmas Carol, died in Stara Boleslav.

1685: Judge Jeffreys was appointed Lord Chancellor of England.

1745: God Save The King was first performed at Drury Lane Theatre, arranged by Thomas Arne.

1865: Elizabeth Garrett Anderson qualified to become Britain's first practising woman doctor.

1884: Emigre Simon Marks and Yorkshireman Tom Spencer (Marks & Spencer) opened their first store in Leeds.

1923: The Radio Times was first published.

1964: Harpo Marx, right, the silent one who chased girls and played the harp, died aged 75.

1978: Pope John Paul I died after only 33 days as Pontiff.

1991: Miles Davis, the legendary jazz trumpeter, died aged 65. He invented an entirely new sound which became known as "cool" jazz.

On this day last year: A 26-year-old man was jailed for life for carrying out five rapes, three of them after he was tested positive for the Aids virus.