3 November It happened today…….

1706  The town of Abruzzi in Italy is destroyed by an earthquake.

1868  Ulysses S Grant elected president of US.

1870  The photographing of prisoners in England and Wales is made compulsory.

1903  Panama proclaims independence from Colombia.

1926  Death of Annie Oakley.

1954  Death of french painter Henri Matisse.

1957  The Soviet satellite Sputnik 2 is launched with a dog called Laika on board.