This Day in History - 11th May

1685 The death of 18 year old Margaret Wilson, executed by drowning for refusing to swear an oath declaring James VII (James II of England) as head of the church. She died along with Margaret McLachlan.

1778The death of William Pitt the Elder, Earl of Chatham and British politician. He conducted most of the Seven Years' War (1756-63) which secured Britain a huge new empire.

1812British Prime Minister Spencer Percival was assassinated in the House of Commons, apparently mistaken by his killer, bankrupt broker John Bellingham, for someone else. He is the only Prime Minister in Britain to have been assassinated.

1820The launch of HMS Beagle, the ship that took Charles Darwin on his scientific voyage to test his theories on evolution.

1857During the Indian Revolution, Indian rebels seized Delhi from the British.

1937The knighting of Pelham Warner, a cricketer, marked the first time the honour was conferred upon a sportsman.

1950Jeremy Paxman, British journalist and author, was born.

1963British businessman Greville Wynne, aged 44, accused of spying for the West was sentenced to eight years' detention by a Moscow tribunal.

1964Interior designer and businessman Terence Conran opened his first Habitat Shop in London's Fulham Road.

1967Britain, Ireland and Denmark officially applied to join the EEC.

1971The Daily Sketch newspaper, which was founded in 1909, was published for the last time. It was Britain's oldest 'tabloid' newspaper.

1977Wallace Virgo, former head of the police pornography squad, was found guilty of taking bribes from Soho vice kings.

1985Fifty six spectators died and more than 200 were injured in a flash fire at Bradford City stadium (Valley Parade football ground) during a match against Lincoln City. The inquiry into the disaster led to the introduction of new legislation to improve safety at the UK's football grounds. One of the main outcomes of the inquiry was prohibiting the construction of new wooden grandstands at all UK sports grounds.

1988Athlete Zola Budd flew back to her home in South Africa following the diplomatic row over her eligibility to compete for Britain.

1988Kim Philby, the English born Soviet spy, died in the USSR.

1989Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical 'Cats' , based on T.S.Eliot's Old Possum poems, became the West End's longest-running musical, completing eight years.

1995Lord Nolan presented his report on standards in public life, in an attempt to rid Westminster of constant allegations of individual 'sleaze'.