AMERICAN DAY OF INDEPENDENCE
- 1776: The American Declaration of Independence was adopted in Philadelphia. It was not fully written or signed until August.
- 1829: The first regular scheduled bus service was introduced in London. It was horse-drawn and ran between Marylebone Road and Bank.
- 1840: The Cunard Line began its first Atlantic crossing when the paddle steamer Britannia sailed from Liverpool to Halifax. The voyage took just over 14 days.
- 1845: Thomas John Barnardo, Dublin-born philanthropist, was born. In 1867 he started homes for some of London’s many destitute children. They became known as Dr Barnardo’s Homes though he never qualified as a medical doctor.
- 1892: James Keir Hardie, standing in the general election at Holytown, Lanarkshire, became the first Socialist to win a seat in the British Parliament.
- 1934: Marie Curie, pictured below, Nobel Prize-winning scientist who discovered radium, fell foul of her own discovery when she died as a result of over-exposure to radioactivity.
- 1968: Alec Rose - later Sir - landed at Portsmouth after sailing single-handed around the world in Lively Lady.
- 1976: Israeli commandos ended the Entebbe hostage crisis in a daring raid in which seven Palestinian terrorists were killed. Three of the 98 hostages - mainly Israeli - also died.
ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR:
The Duke of Sussex missed England’s crunch World Cup match to celebrate the achievements of a friend who completed an epic fundraising bike ride.
BIRTHDAYS
Gina Lollobrigida, actress, 92.
Bill Withers, singer-songwriter, 81.
Prince Michael of Kent, 77.
Jenny Seagrove, actress, 62.
Neil Morrissey, actor, 57.
Henri Leconte, former tennis player, 56.
Jo Whiley, DJ, 54.
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