On this day in...

1586 - The first potato arrived in Britain . It had been brought from Colombia by Sir Thomas Harriot.

1858 - Fingerprints were used as a means of identification for the first time, by William Herschel.

1914 - The Austro-Hungarian Empire declared war on Serbia, beginning the First World War.

1998 - Monica Lewinsky agreed to tell the truth about her affair with Bill Clinton, in exchange for full immunity from perjury prosecution.

1998 - Saddam Hussein issued a decree banning Iraqi men from wearing shorts in public. Those breaking the man could expect up to a month in jail.

1999 - An English world dictionary was launched including words that showed the influence of Australian and American television on the language. It included words such as Puh-lease and no worries.

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