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11th June

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1509: Henry VIII marries first wife


King Henry VIII of England marries Catherine of Aragon, the first of six wives he has in his lifetime. When Catherine failed to produce a male heir, Henry divorced her against the will of the Roman Catholic Church, thus precipitating the Protestant Reformation in England. Henry went on to have five more wives; two of whom--Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard--he executed for alleged adultery after he grew tired of them. His only surviving child by Catherine of Aragon, Mary, ascended to the throne upon the death of Edward VI in 1553.

1993

Iranian leader Akbar Rafsanjani wins a second 4-year term as President of Iran.

1977

Dutch marines storm a train at Assen in which South Mouluccan terrorists had been holding 50 hostages for 19 days. Six terrorists and two hostages are killed.

1976

Angolan authorities put 13 mercenary soldiers on trial accused of fighting for the FNLA during the country's civil war. All are executed in July.

1965

All four members of the British group The Beatles, are awarded OBEs in Queen Elizabeth II's birthday honours list.

1963

A monk, Quang Duc, sets fire to himself in Saigon in protest at South Vietnam's treatment of Buddhists.

1955

At least 80 people are killed and another 100 injured when three cars crash on the Le Mans race circuit in France smash into a crowded spectator area.

1953

Len Hutton becomes the first professional cricketer to become captain of England.

1952

English cricketer Denis Compton completes his 100th First Class century.

1907

In English county cricket, Northamptonshire are bowled out for 12 by Gloucestershire at Gloucester - the lowest total in first class cricket.

1727

George II becomes King of England following the death of his father, George I.

1956

American football quarterback Joe Montana.

1956

American football quarterback Joe Montana.

1939

Scottish motor racing champion Jackie Stewart.

1935

American actor Gene Wilder.

1910

French underwater explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau. Inventor of the aqualung diving equipment.

1880

Jeanette Rankin, the first woman member of the US Congress. Famously becomes the only vote against the United States declaring war on Japan following the attack on Pearl Harbour in 1941.

1864

German composer Richard Strauss.

1776

English landscape painter John Constable

1572

English poet and playwright Ben Johnson.

1999

American actor Deforest Kelley - alias Dr McCoy in the US TV series Star Trek.

1998

Romantic novelist Dame Catherine Cookson aged 91.

1979

American film star John Wayne.

1847

Sir John Franklin, English naval officer and explorer, dies in Canada during his attempt to find the Northwest Passage.

1727

George I - the first Hanoverian king of England.

1488

James III of Scotland is murdered after his defeat at the Battle of Sauchieburn, Stirling.