1781: The American War of Independence came to an end when Lord Cornwallis surrendered to George Washington at Yorktown, Virginia.

1812: Napoleon's army began its retreat from Moscow.

1860: The first company to manufacture internal combustion engines was formed in Florence. The engines were designed by Eugenio Barsanti and Felice Matteucci.

1862: Auguste Lumiere, French moving picture pioneer, was born. His "Cinematographe" system gave its name to the word "cinema".

1872: The Holtermann nugget, the largest gold-bearing nugget ever found, weighing 630lb, was mined at Hill End, New South Wales, Australia.

1914: The first Battle of Ypres began.

1963: Sir Alec Douglas-Home, pictured right, succeeded Harold Macmillan as Prime Minister.

1987: Jacqueline du Pre, British cellist, died aged 42.

1987: "Black Monday" on Wall Street wiped out millions on the stock markets around the world. Wall Street ended the day down 22pc, lower than the 1929 crash.

1989: The Guildford Four, having served 15 years in jail, had their convictions quashed for the IRA Guildford and Woolwich bombings.

On this day last year: A "serious error" was made by researchers who wasted five years testing the wrong animal brains for BSE. Urgent inquiries have been launched into the mix-up, which saw scientists examining the brains of cows, thinking they were testing those belonging to sheep.

BIRTHDAYS: John Le Carre (David Cornwell), author, 71; Bill Morris, trade union leader, 64; Sir Michael Gambon, actor, 62; Simon Ward, actor, 61; John Lithgow, actor, 57; Sam Allardyce, football manger, 48; Evander Holyfield, boxer, 40; Sinitta Malone, actress and singer, 36; Ken Doherty, snooker player, 33; Pras Michel, R&B singer, 30; Daniele Dichio, footballer, 28.