The Mesoamerican Long Count Calendar, most famously used by the Maya civilisation, began.

The Louvre museum in Paris opened to the public in the former palace of the French royal family.

Construction began on the campanile of the Cathedral of Pisa, now better known as the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Traffic was stopped on the B507 road in London so The Beatles could pose for their iconic Abbey Road album cover.

Alice Huyler Ramsey became the first woman to drive an automobile across a continent when she completed a 59-day road trip from New York to San Francisco.

William Kemmler became the first person to be executed using an electric chair.

Scottish independence leader Sir William Wallace was captured by English forces at Robroyston near Glasgow.

On the 4th August 1693, legend says that French Benedictine monk Dom Pérignon invented champagne.

American athlete Jesse Owens won the first of four gold medals at the Berlin Olympics.

Hannibal’s army inflicted a devastating defeat on the numerically superior Roman army at the Battle of Cannae.

George, Elector of Hanover, became King George I of Great Britain.

On the 31st July 1970, the British Royal Navy issued the last daily rum ration, or “tot”, to sailors.

On the 30th July 1792, a group of volunteer soldiers from the city of Marseille were the first to introduce and sing “La Marseillaise” in Paris.

On the 29th July 1567, James VI was crowned king of Scotland when he was just 13 months old.