Anniversaries

TODAY

Births: Christopher Marlowe, playwright, 1564; Antoine Arnauld, theologian, 1612; Queen Anne, 1665; Ugo Foscolo, novelist and poet, 1778; Sir Henry Irving (John Henry Brodribb), actor, 1838; Isabella Mary Beeton (Mayson), cookery writer, 1865; George Herman ("Babe") Ruth, baseball player, 1895; Eva Braun, Adolf Hitler's mistress, 1912; Francois Truffaut, film director, 1932. Deaths: Thurstan, Archbishop of York, 1140; King Charles II, 1685; Lancelot "Capability" Brown, landscape gardener, 1783; The Rev Ebenezer Cobham Brewer, author of the Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, 1897; Gustav Klimt, painter, 1918; King George VI, 1952; Marghanita Laski, writer, 1888; Arthur Ashe, tennis player, 1993. On this day: Maximilian I assumed the title of Holy Roman Emperor, 1508; James II acceded to the throne of Great Britain, 1685; Britain declared war on France, 1778; Great Britain and Maori chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi in New Zealand, 1840; Crete proclaimed a union with Greece, 1897; the Boy Scouts of America were chartered, 1910; an Act of Parliament granted votes for women over 30, 1918; Queen Elizabeth II succeeded to the throne, 1952; seven members of the Manchester United football team were among 21 killed in an air crash at Munich, 1958; agreement was reached between Britain and France on a Channel Tunnel, 1964. Today is the National Day of New Zealand and the Feast Day of St Amand, St Guarinus of Palestrina, St Hildegund, Saints Mel and Melchu, St Paul Miki and his Companions and St Vedast or Vaast.

TOMORROW

Births: St Thomas More, 1478; Thomas Killigrew, playwright, 1612; Charles John Huffam Dickens, novelist, 1812; Franz Friedrich Richard Genee, conductor and composer, 1823; Sir William Huggins, astronomer, 1824; Dmitri Ivanovich Mendeleyev, chemist, 1834; Harry Sinclair Lewis, novelist, 1885. Deaths: James Stewart, second Earl of Moray, murdered 1591; Jan van Huysum, painter, 1749; Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki, painter and engraver, 1801; Pope Pius IX, 1878; Adolphe Sax, inventor of the saxophone, 1894; Thomas Sidney Cooper, painter, 1902. On this day: Edward of Caernarvon (later King Edward II) was created Prince of Wales, 1301; while visiting the British Museum, William Lloyd smashed the first-century Portland Vase, 1845; the main group of the Dead Sea Scrolls was discovered, 1947. Tomorrow is the Feast Day of St Adaucus, St Luke the Younger, St Moses, St Richard, "king", St Silvin and St Theodore of Heraclea.