Today in history

1586 : Sir Walter Raleigh brings first tobacco to England from Virginia

1866 : Atlantic telegraph cable successfully laid (1686 miles long)

1880 : A P Abourne patents a process for refining coconut oil

1888 : Philip Pratt unveils first electric automobile

1940 : Billboard magazine starts publishing bestseller charts

1954 : Armistice divides Vietnam into two countries

1976 : Tina Turner files for divorce from husband Ike

1977 : John Lennon is granted a green card for permanent residence in the USA

1988 : Radio Shack announces the 'Tandy 1000 SL' computer

1990 : Zsa Zsa Gabor begins a 3 day jail sentence for slapping a cop

2015 : The Metropolitan Police launch a criminal investigation after Lord Sewel, the former Deputy Lords Speaker, is filmed allegedly taking cocaine with prostitutes