1672King Charles II enacted the 'Declaration of Indulgence', a first step at establishing freedom of religion in England to Protestant nonconformists and Roman Catholics. It suspended the laws that punished those who did not attend the services of the Church of England. The following year the Cavalier Parliament compelled him to withdraw this Declaration. When Charles II's Catholic successor (James II) attempted to issue a similar Declaration it led to the Glorious Revolution that ousted him from the throne.

1813The birth of John Snow, the English physician who pioneered the use of ether.

1824Building work started on the London Bridge designed by John Rennie.

1877The first cricket test between Australia and England was played in Melbourne. Australia won by 45 runs.

1898The death of Sir Henry Bessemer, English metallurgist and pioneer of mass-produced steel.

1906Rolls-Royce Limited, the British car and aero-engine manufacturing company was founded by Henry Royce and C.S. Rolls. See picture of the sculpture of Charles Rolls and a picture of a Rolls Royce Wraith.

1909Selfridges store (named after its owner Harry Gordon Selfridge) was opened in London's Oxford Street. In September 1997 they opened their first store outside London when the Trafford Centre (Manchester) opened.

1949Clothes rationing, which had been introduced during the 2nd World War, was ended.

1962The Liberals won the seat of Orpington from the Conservatives in their first by-election victory for four years.

1964Film stars Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor married in Montreal. They later divorced then remarried.

1974The architect John Poulson was jailed for five years for corruption. He was found guilty of bribing public figures to win contracts.

1976The driver of a London Underground train was shot dead as he chased a gunman after a bomb exploded on the train.

1983A letter bomb sent to the Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was defused by explosives experts.

1990Iraq hanged British journalist Farzad Bazoft, a freelance reporter for The Observer, for alleged spying for Israel while working in Iraq. Immediately after the execution, Britain recalled her ambassador to Iraq and all ministerial visits were cancelled. Bazoft's story contributed to international isolation of Saddam's Hussein's regime and just months after the incident, on 2nd August 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait, sparking the first Gulf War.

2003The death of Dame Thora Hird, British actress. She is best remembered for her role of almost two decades in Last of the Summer Wine but played many other roles in her long career. She won a BAFTA Best Actress award for her roles in two of Alan Bennett's Talking Heads monologues and a BAFTA for Best Actress in Lost for Words.

2014The death of TV Cook Clarissa Dickson Wright, at the age of 66. Christened Clarissa Theresa Philomena Aileen Mary Josephine Agnes Elsie Trilby Louise Esmerelda Dickson Wright, she became famous as one half of 'The Two Fat Ladies'. Wright and the late Jennifer Paterson travelled the country on a Triumph Thunderbird motorcycle and sidecar and would prepare meals for members of the public. A former barrister, Clarissa Dickson Wright was, until 2013 the youngest woman ever to be called to the Bar, passing her exams aged 21.

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