Anniversaries

Anniversaries

Births: Isaac Watts, hymn writer, 1674; John Jacob Astor, fur trader and merchant, 1763; Hippolyte-Paul Delaroche, painter, 1797; Erle Stanley Gardner, novelist and creator of "Perry Mason", 1889; James Cagney, actor, 1899. Deaths: William Somerville, poet, 1742; Adam Smith, political economist and writer, 1790; Charlotte Corday, murderess of Jean Marat, executed 1793; Charles Grey, second Earl Grey, statesman, 1845; James Abbott McNeill Whistler, painter, 1903; Billie Holiday, jazz singer, 1959. On this day: the Hundred Years' War ended after the defeat of the English at Castillon, 1453; Martin Frobisher reached Baffin Land, 1577; the Bridgewater Canal, linking Worsley and Manchester, opened, 1761; Thomas Saint patented the first sewing machine, 1790; the humorous magazine Punch was first published, 1841; George Phillips Bond, astronomer, made the first photograph of a star, 1850; Disneyland opened in California, 1955; Donald Campbell reached a speed of 429.3 mph in his car Bluebird at Lake Eyre, South Australia, 1964; the Humber Estuary Bridge was opened, 1981. Today is the Feast Day of St Clement of Okhrida and his Companions, St Ennodius, St Kenelm, St Leo IV, Pope, St Marcellina, St Nerses Lampronazi, The Seven Apostles of Bulgaria, St Speratus and his Companions, The Carmelite Martyrs of Compiegne and The Martyrs of Scillium.