On this day

1707: The Acts of Union became law, making England and Scotland one country.

1726: Sir John Vanbrugh, playwright and architect of Blenheim Palace, above, died.

1780: The British Gazette And Sunday Monitor, the first Sunday newspaper in Britain, was published.

1827: Famously deaf composer Ludwig van Beethoven died in Vienna, aged 57. His last words were reputedly: “I shall hear in Heaven.”

1885: The first cremation in Britain took place at Woking in Surrey.

1937: Popeye the sailor-man became the first cartoon character to have his statue erected – by spinach growers in Crystal City, Texas.

1945: David Lloyd George, who laid the foundations of the Welfare State and led Britain through the First World War, died at the age of 82.

1971: East Pakistan, under Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, declared independence to become the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.

1973: The first woman stockbroker set foot on the floor of the London Stock Exchange.

1979: Israel and Egypt ended 30 years of war after a peace deal brokered by the United States.

1981: The so-called Gang of Four (Roy Jenkins, David Owen, Bill Rodgers and Shirley Williams) launched the Social Democratic Party.

1992: Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson, above, was jailed after being found guilty of one count of rape and two counts of criminal deviate conduct.

ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: More than 100 people attended the funeral of an RAF veteran who died with no known family after a social media appeal.

BIRTHDAYS: Erica Jong, writer, 77; Bob Woodward, Watergate journalist, 76; Diana Ross, singer, 75; Steve Tyler, rock musician (Aerosmith), 71; Martin Short, actor, 69; Jennifer Grey, actress, 59; Lord (William) Hague, Conservative politician, 58; Amy Smart, actress, 43; Keira Knightley, actress, 34.