1766The official opening of the 137 mile long Grand Union Canal (Britain's longest canal) that links London to Birmingham.

1789The Scottish explorer Alexander Mackenzie finally completed his journey to the mouth of the great river he hoped would take him to the Pacific, but which turns out to flow into the Arctic Ocean. Later named after him, the Mackenzie is the second-longest river system in North America.

1791The Priestley Riots (also known as the Birmingham Riots of 1791) took place from 14th to 17th July. The rioters' main targets were English Dissenters, i.e. those Christians who had separated from the Church of England, most notably the controversial clergyman and chemist Joseph Priestley, who is credited with the discovery of oxygen.

1858The birth, in Moss Side Manchester, of Emmeline Pankhurst, the English suffragette who led the fight for women's suffrage in Britain, often by violent means.

1865British climber Edward Whymper led the first team of climbers to reach the summit of the Matterhorn in the Alps. As they made their way down, Douglas Hadow, aged 19, slipped and dragged two English climbers and a guide after him. The rope snapped and they plunged to their deaths down a 4,000 ft precipice, but the three others in the party were saved.

1867Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel demonstrated dynamite for the first time, at a quarry in Redhill, Surrey.

1903It became known that the government would reject proposals to introduce driving tests, vehicle inspections and penalties for drunken drivers.

1939The government announced that all infants and nursing mothers would get fresh milk free or at no more than two pence a pint.

1940World War II: Britain tackled the threat of a German invasion by forming the Home Guard - a part-time volunteer army, generally comprising men too old for national service.

1958Iraq became a republic after the assassination of King Faisal.

1962The Beatles played their first gig in Wales when they appeared at The Regent Dansette Theatre in Rhyl.

1967Abortion was legalized in Britain.

1991British troops protecting the Kurdish population in Iraq began to pull out of the region.

1996A bomb exploded in a hotel at Enniskillen in Northern Ireland in which 40 people were injured. It was the first bomb in the province for two years.

1997Convicted murderer and former London gangster Reggie Kray married Roberta Jones at Maidstone Prison in Kent.

2005The death of Dame Cicely Saunders, English nurse, physician and writer. She helped the dying and terminally ill to end their lives in the most comfortable way possible and is best known for her role in the birth of the hospice movement.

2014The Church of England General Synod approved women bishops. The announcement was followed by the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, leading the General Synod in a rendition of 'We are Marching in the Light of God'. The Rt. Rev. Libby Lane became the first female Church of England bishop, when she was consecrated Bishop of Stockport in a ceremony at York Minster. See the consecration picture.

• Contact Form