Monday 19th October 1772 The Major of London laid the foundation stone of the Maidenhead Bridge over the River Thames. Designed by Robert Taylor, the bridge cost £19,000. Tolls were abolished on 31st October 1903 and at midnight a crowd tore down the toll gate and threw it into the river.

Thursday 20th April 1769 Chief Pontiac (48 – 49), legendary Indian leader and namesake of the General Motors marque, was murdered at Cahokia, Illinois, US. The Odawa war chief who became noted for his role in Pontiac’s War (1763–1766), an American Indian struggle against British military occupation of the Great Lakes region and named for…