This Day in History - 9th September

1087 William the Conqueror died in Maine (France) from injuries he sustained after a fall from his horse.

1513 The Scots were heavily defeated by the English at the Battle of Flodden Field and James IV was killed, along with all his nobles. Flodden Field is close to the village of Branxton, Northumberland. 

1543 Mary Stuart, at just nine months old, was crowned 'Queen of Scots' in the Scottish town of Stirling.

1754 Birth date of William Bligh, British naval officer who was the victim of two mutinies, the most famous on the HMS Bounty which was taken over by Fletcher Christian.

1855 Crimean War: The Siege of Sevastopol (Sebastopol) came to an end when Russian forces abandon the city. Although defended heroically and at the cost of heavy Allied casualties, (almost 130,00 in total), the fall of Sevastopol led to the Russian defeat in the Crimean War.

1879 The death of John Smith, English brewer, best known for operating the John Smith's Brewery in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire. As at 2012, John Smith's was the highest selling bitter in the world.

1911 The launch of the first airmail service in England, between Hendon and Windsor.

1949 The birth of John Curry, English figure skating champion and 1976 Olympic and World Champion.

1958 There were race riots in London's Notting Hill Gate, with television crews accused of encouraging the rioting by staging reconstructions in the streets.

1960 The birth of Hugh Grant, English actor and film producer who achieved international stardom after appearing in Four Weddings and a Funeral.

1985 Champion jockey Lester Piggott announced his retirement, having won more than 5,000 races around the world. In 1987 he was jailed following an investigation over tax evasion, but resumed his career following his release and rode his last winner in October 1994.

1987 Twenty five English football fans involved in the Heysel stadium disaster were extradited to Belgium.

1988 The Indian cricket tour was cancelled as English cricket captain Graham Gooch and seven other members of his squad were refused visas to travel to India.

1996 The European Court of Human Rights agreed to hear a case in which a 12-year old boy was challenging British laws allowing parents to use corporal punishment on their children.

2001 Days before Home Secretary David Blunkett met his French counterpart, he admitted Britain was "particularly attractive" to asylum seekers.

2015 Queen Elizabeth II overtook Queen Victoria as the longest serving monarch of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Queen Victoria was Queen for 63 years and 216 days.