1852: Britain's first pillar boxes were erected in St Helier, Jersey.

1879: The pencil sharpener was patented by J. L. Love.

1921: American President, Warren Harding, banned doctors from prescribing beer, eliminating a loophole in the prohibition laws.

1956: Jayne Mansfield was served with a writ by her husband. He claimed she was an unworthy mother, on the grounds that she was living with her lover and had posed nude for Playboy.

1960: The Magnificent Seven hit the cinema screens.

1963: The first episode of Dr Who was broadcast with William Hartnell as the Doctor and Anna Ford as his assistant.

1976: Ten hours after his drink-driving arrest, Jerry Lee Lewis was arrested again. This time the offence was brandishing a pistol outside Gracelands and demanding to see the "King".

1976: Chicago were at number one with their classic If You Leave Me Now.