ON THIS DAY - JULY 5
NATIONAL DAY OF VENEZUELA
1755: Mrs Sarah Siddons, the leading English actress of her time, was born.
1810: Phineas Barnum, the world's greatest showman, was born in Connecticut.
1817: The first gold sovereigns were issued in Britain.
1865: The Locomotives and Highway Act in Britain introduced a speed limit for road vehicles of 4mph in the country, 2mph in towns.
1948: The Labour government introduced the National Health Service. It supplied free medical treatment and free prescriptions for glasses, teeth and wigs.
1965: Opera star Maria Callas gave her last stage performance - in Tosca - at Covent Garden. She was 41.
1969: More than 300,000 rock fans attended a free concert by the Rolling Stones in London's Hyde Park.
ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: The Prince of Wales stunned a ladies' circle when he unexpectedly asked them for advice on his own impending grandfatherhood.
