1706 The birth of John Dollond, English optician. Dollond & Aitchison opticians was established in 1750.
1791 The birth of Robert Napier, Scottish engineer who is often called 'The Father of Clyde Shipbuilding'. His first engine, the Leven engine, is on display at the Scottish Maritime Museum in Dumbarton.
1798 During the Irish Rebellion the British Army defeated Irish rebels at the Battle of Vinegar Hill in Enniscorthy, County Wexford. It marked a turning point in the rebellion, as it was the last attempt by the rebels to hold and defend ground against the British military.
1854 The first Victoria Cross, Britain's highest medal for bravery, was awarded to Charles Lucas, who was awarded it during the Crimean War for conspicuous bravery. The medal was made from metal from a cannon captured at Sebastopol. The Victoria Cross was extended to colonial troops in 1867 and to date a total of 1,356 Victoria Crosses have been awarded.
1898 A reporter covering the launch of HMS Albion on the Thames was in such a hurry to file his story that he missed the fact that 38 people drowned when a temporary jetty collapsed.
1919 German sailors scuttled 72 warships at Scapa Flow in the Orkneys even though Germany had surrendered. It was the greatest act of self-destruction in modern military history.
1937 First televising of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships.
1942 German forces under Field-Marshal Rommel captured Tobruk.
1948 The first stored programme to run on a computer was put through its paces on the Small Scale Experimental Machine, known as Baby, at Manchester University.
1954 The birth, in Oldham, Lancashire of actress Anne Kirkbride, best known for her long-running role as Deirdre Barlow in Coronation Street, which she has played since 1972.
1969 The BBC TV broadcast 'Royal Family' - a documentary going behind the public facade of the British Royal Family. This was the first time anyone had seen Queen Elizabeth II, her husband the Duke of Edinburgh and their children other than on official engagements.
1970 Tony Jacklin won the US Open at Hazeltine Golf Club, Minnesota. He was the first Briton to win since Ted Ray in 1920.
1982 Diana, Princess of Wales, gave birth to a boy, (Prince William) sixteen hours after checking in to St Mary's Hospital, in London.
1991 British Gas chairman Robert Evans came under fire for accepting a pay increase of 66%, taking his annual wage to £370,000.
1996 Britain and other members of the EU reached an agreement for the phased lifting of the ban on British beef. French farmers, however, blockaded two channel ports.Statistics: Posted by chenrezig — 21 Jun 2014, 05:42
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