It happened today – this day in history – October 4

1537: The first English language Bible is printed.

1669: Death of artist Rembrandt.

1777: Gen George Washington’s troops are defeated by the British at the Battle of Germantown, Pensylvania.

1809: Spencer Percival becomes prime minister of the UK.

1824: Mexico becomes a republic.

1910: Portugal becomes a republic.

1911: The first escalator installed on the London Underground at Earl’s Court Station.

1933: The first copy of Esquire magazine is published.

1943: Corsica is freed by the Free French.

1957: The USSR launches Sputnik 1, the first man-made satellite.

1958: The Fifth Republic of France is established.

1970: Singer Janis Joplin dies of a heroin overdose.

1978: Country singer Tammy Wynette was abducted, beaten and held in her car for two hours by a kidnapper wearing a ski mask.

1982: Helmut Kohl is confirmed as West Germany’s new Chancellor.

1983: Richard Noble driving Thrust2 reaches a new land speed record of 650.88 mph in Nevada.

1989: Monty Python star Graham Chapman dies from cancer.

2006: Wikileaks is launched by Julian Assange.

BIRTHDAYS: Anne Rice, author, 78; Susan Sarandon, actress, 73; Ann Widdecombe, politician, 72; Christoph Waltz, actor, 63; Anneka Rice, TV presenter, 61; Chris Lowe, musician (Pet Shop Boys), 60; Liev Schreiber, actor, 52; Alicia Silverstone, actress, 43; Richard Reed Parry, musician (Arcade Fire), 42; Catriona Balfe, actress, 40; Mellissa Benoist, actress, 31; Dakota Johnson, actress, 30.