1887: Russia sold Alaska to America for $7.2 million.
1992: The British Broadcasting Company (later Corporation) was officially formed.
1967: A Russian spacecraft made the first soft landing on Venus.
1968: American Bob Beamon set a world long jump record which was to stand for more than 20 years.
1969: Rod Steward joined The Faces.
1981: Bergerac was screened for the first time.
1982: The first cattle grid with an escape route for hedgehogs was unveiled near Ludlow in Shropshire.
1986: Ex-Eastender Nick Berry was at number one with Every Loser Wins.
1989: Hungary was proclaimed a free republic following the collapse of Communism.
1995: Three times Grand National winner, Red Rum, died. He was buried by the finishing line at Aintree racecourse.
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