This Day in History - 6th June

1683The Ashmolean Museum, on Oxford's Beaumont Street, opened as the world's first university museum.

1813In the 'War of 1812', at the Battle of Stoney Creek, a British force of 700 under John Vincent defeated an American force twice its size under William Winder and John Chandler.

1820Caroline, Princess of Wales, whom George IV wished to divorce, triumphantly entered London, demanding her recognition as queen.

1844The Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) was founded in London.

1844The Factory Act in Britain restricted female workers to a 12-hour day; children between eight and 13 years were limited to six-and-a-half hours.

1868The birth of Captain Robert Falcon Scott, English naval officer and Antarctic explorer who set out on a second expedition to reach the South Pole in 1910; which turned out to be an ill-fated race to beat the Norwegian, Amundsen. 

1896The birth of Henry Allingham, English First World War veteran, and supercentenarian (i.e. someone who has reached the age of 110 years). For one month, he was verified as the oldest living man in the world. He was also the last survivor of the Battle of Jutland, the last surviving member of the Royal Naval Air Service and the last surviving founding member of the Royal Air Force.

1921The Southwark Bridge in London was opened to traffic by King George V and Queen Mary.

1936Gatwick Airport opened in Surrey. Half a century later, it became Britain’s second biggest international airport, and one of the world’s busiest.

1944World War II: The Battle of Normandy began. D-Day, code named Operation Overlord, commenced with the landing of 155,000 Allied troops on the beaches of Normandy in France to liberate Western Europe from German occupation.The allied soldiers quickly broke through the Atlantic Wall and pushed inland in the largest amphibious military operation in history. 

1949Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell’s prophetic novel of a world ruled by Big Brother, was published.

1958Mike Gatting, English cricketer was born.

1962An unknown British group, The Beatles, played at an audition for EMI record producer George Martin.

1967President Nasser closed the Suez Canal, alleging that US and British forces were aiding Israel.

1968 The death of Randolph Churchill, journalist, Conservative MP for Preston from 1940-45 and the only son of Winston Churchill. He is buried in St Martin's Churchyard in Bladon, Oxfordshire, along with other members of the Churchill family.

1975Results of a nationwide referendum on 5th June backed the UK's continued membership of the EEC by a large majority.

1988 Queen Elizabeth II stripped champion jockey Lester Piggott of his OBE after he was jailed for tax evasion.

1994Six detainees held in an Oxfordshire immigration centre made their escape after a rooftop protest.