9 January It Happened Today

1799  Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger introduces income tax in Britain to pay for the war against France.

1806  Lord Nelson, hero of the Battle of Trafalgar, is buried at St Paul’s Cathedral.

1854  Birth of Lady Randolph Churchill, mother of Sir Winston.

1913  Birth of future US president Richard M Nixon.

1914  Birth of the American strip-tease artiste Gypsy Rose Lee.

1972  The trans-atlantic liner Queen Elizabeth sinks in Hong Kong harbour.