In 1827, the Duke of Wellington was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the British Army.

In 1942, former boxer Muhammad Ali was born under the name Cassius Clay.

In 1985, British Telecom announced the retirement of its traditional red phone boxes.

25 years ago

From the Telegraph & Argus of January 17, 1982...Two Bradford MPs and the city bishop have signed an open letter to President Brezhrev appealing for the release of Vladimir Poresh, a 32-year-old librarian imprisoned in the Soviet Union for his religious beliefs. Bradford North MP Ben Ford, Bradford West MP Edward Lyons, and the Rt Rev Geoffrey Paul are among 41 public figures to have put their signatures to the letter circulated by Amnesty International's Leeds Group. Vladimir Poresh was sentenced in 1980 to five years in jail and three years internal exile for his involvement in an independent group of Russian Christians.

50 years ago

From the Telegraph & Argus of January 17, 1957...A Bradford wife and mother who mysteriously disappeared and turned up living with a religious sect in Scotland have returned home to Shipley. Last night Mrs Sylvia Astall's parents, Mr and Mrs Sidney Moss, of Carrbottom Avenue, Wibsey, Bradford, met their daughter in Glasgow and persuaded her to come home along with their 21-month-old granddaughter, Christine. It is not yet known if Mr Astall, who first fled to the Oban sect, will stay in the Western Isles or return to Bradford.