Happy Anniversary: Seconds away, round 75 . . .

THE Communist Manifesto, a de-frocked cleric and other manifestations appropriate to the week of the Fourth of July.

4 July

1776: George III writes in his diary: 'Nothing of importance happened today.'

1826: Two US presidents, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, die.

1829: Introduction of horse-drawn London buses.

1831: Another US president, James Munroe, dies.

1848: The Communist Manifesto is published.

1984: Dog licences abolished in the UK.

5 July

1817: The first gold sovereigns are issued in Britain.

1865: Britain introduces the world's first speed limit: 2mph in towns, 4mph in the country.

1841: Thomas Cook's first excursion: for members of the Temperance movement, from Leicester to Loughborough.

6 July

1806: Pope Pius VII is arrested for excommunicating Napoleon.

1908: The UK, US, Canada and the Netherlands cease to be missionary lands by papal decree.

1957: John Lennon meets Paul McCartney.

1979: Elizabeth Ryan, holder of 19 Wimbledon titles, dies on the day Billie- Jean King beats her record.

7 July

1942: The Vatican lets women without stockings enter St Peter's.

1982: The Queen is woken by Michael Fagin, Intruder to the Royal Bedchamber.

8 July

1889: John L Sullivan wins the last bare-knuckle world heavyweight championship fight, knocking out Jake Kilrain in the 75th round.

1905: May Sutton becomes the first foreigner to win a Wimbledon title.

1932: Harold Davidson, the Rector of Stiffkey, is found guilty of disreputable association with women, after accusations that he had made improper suggestions to a waitress in a Chinese restaurant. He died five years later after being mauled by a lion at a Skegness amusement park.

1946: Margaret Roberts, of Somerville College, is elected President of Oxford University Conservative Association.

9 July

1877: Spencer W Gore wins the first men's singles title at the All-England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club. The club hopes it will become an annual event.

1887: Paper napkins are used for the first time at the annual dinner of John Dickenson in Hastings.

1969: An Irish zoo succeeds in delivering the first rhino born in captivity.

10 July

1099: Death of Spanish warrior El Cid (Rodrigo Diaz de Bivar), supposedly through grief at the defeat of his forces by the Moors.

1947: The government announces that Princess Elizabeth will receive extra ration coupons to purchase her wedding dress.

1958: Britain's first parking meters appear in Mayfair.