On this day in history 16th July

Born

1872 Roald Amundsen

1942 Desmond Decker

1958 Michael Flatley

1907 Barbara Stanwyck

1942 Margaret Court

1963 Phoebe Cates

1911 Ginger Rogers

1952 Stewart Copeland

1964 Miguel Indurain

General Events

1377 The coronation of King Richard II took place.

1945 The first atomic bomb was detonated at Almogordo Air Base in

New Mexico.

1984 A jeroboam of Mouton Baron de Rothschild 1870 became the

world's most expensive bottle of wine when it was sold in Britain for

over £26,500 of £500 a glass

.

1990 Voluntary written tests for learner drivers were to be

introduced in September with close monitoring by the Department of

Transport, who hoped to introduce compulsory written tests by 1992.

 

1992 Security procedures at Buckingham Palace were again in doubt

after an intruder was caught just 50 yards from the Queen's bedroom.

1995 The Species Action Programme was considering reintroducing the

beaver to Britain as part of a scheme to manage woodlands using only

natural methods. The European beaver became extinct in the British Isles

during the 15th century.

1997 It was announced that beggars in Bath could soon be offered a

salary between £10,000 and £14,000 for helping visitors find places in

ther city. The annual arrival of 4.5 million tourists attracts dozens of

beggars each year and some are even rumoured to make up to £100 a day.