Anniversaries

TODAY: Births: Arnold Schoenberg, composer, 1874; John Boynton Priestley, author, 1894; Claudette Colbert (Lily Claudette Chauchoin), actress, 1903; John Smith QC MP, Labour Party leader, 1938. Deaths: Andrea Mantegna, painter, 1506; Charles James Fox, statesman, 1806; William Heath Robinson, artist and illustrator, 1944. On this day: Montrose was defeated by the Covenanters at Philiphaugh, 1645; John Bunyan was released from Bedford jail after 12 years, 1672. Today is the Feast Day of St Amatus or Ame, abbot, St Amatus or Ame, bishop, St Eulogius of Alexandria, St John Chrysostom and St Mauritius.

TOMORROW: Births: Sir Peter Lely (Van der Faes), painter, 1617; Johann Michael Haydn, composer, 1737; Jack Hawkins (John Edward Hawkins), actor, 1910. Deaths: Dante (Durante) Alighieri, poet, 1321; Arthur Wellesley, first Duke of Wellington, soldier and statesman, 1852; Isadora Duncan, dancer, killed in a car crash 1927; Princess Grace (Grace Kelly) of Monaco, after a car crash 1982. On this day: Napoleon and his army entered Moscow, 1812. Tomorrow is the Feast Day of St Maternus of Cologne and St Notburga.