10 January It Happened Today

1645  William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury, is beheaded.

1840  The Penny Post is introduced in Britain. The sender of the letter now pays the postage whereas under the previous system, the recipient would have to pay.

1862  Death of the American gunsmith Sam Colt.

1945  Birth of British rock singer Rod Stewart,

1949  RCA and Columbia launch the vinyl record in America.

1971  Death of the fashion designer Coco Chanel.