Anniversaries
Births: Jean-Antoine Watteau, painter, 1684; Johann Ludwig Krebs, composer, 1713; Henry Cavendish, physicist and chemist, 1731; Giuseppe Fortunio Francesco Verdi, composer, 1813; Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger, farmer and Boer statesman, 1825; Rufus Daniel Isaacs, first Marquess of Reading, 1860; William Richard Morris, first Viscount Nuffield, 1877; Helen Hayes (Helen Hayes Brown), actress, 1900; Alberto Giacometti, sculptor, 1901; Thelonious Sphere Monk, pianist and pioneer of 'bop', 1918.
Deaths: Fra Filippo Lippi, painter, 1469; Ugo (Niccolo) Foscolo, poet, 1827; King Carol (Karl Eitel Friedrich) of Romania, 1914; Katherine Mayo, social reformer and author, 1940; Edith Piaf (Edith Giovanna Gassion), singer, 1963; Eddie (Edward Israel Iskowitz) Cantor, entertainer and actor, 1964; Sir Ralph David Richardson, actor, 1983; Yul Brynner (Youl Bryner), actor, 1985; George Orson Welles, actor and producer, 1985.
On this day: Lyons was founded by Lucius Plancus, 43 BC; the fourth and present building of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, opened, 1812; Henry Morton Stanley met Dr Livingstone at Ujiji, 1871; the Savoy Theatre, London, opened with a performance of Patience by Gilbert and Sullivan, 1881; the first public street collection for charity (later 'flag days') was held as 'Lifeboat Saturday', in Manchester, 1891; the republican revolution began in Central China, 1911; George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess opened in New York City, 1935; the XVIIIth Olympic Games opened in Tokyo, 1964; Pierre Laporte, Quebec Labour Minister, was kidnapped by French Canadian separatists; he was found murdered a week later, 1970; Sir John Betjeman became Poet Laureate, 1972; after being fined dollars 10,000 for income tax evasion, Spiro Agnew resigned as US Vice-President, 1973; in the General Election, Labour was returned with an overall majority of three, 1974.
Today is the Feast Day of St Cerbonius, St Daniel, Saints Eulampius and Eulampia, St Francis Borgia, St Gereon, St Maharsapor and St Paulinus of York.
Lectures
Victoria & Albert Museum: Eva White, 'The First Years of the National Art Library 1837-53', 2.30pm.
Wallace Collection: Georgina Roberts, '17th-century Dutch Paintings', 1pm.
Dinners
Honourable Artillery Company
Saddle Club
The Annual Dinner of the Honourable Artillery Company Saddle Club, was held on Saturday evening at Armoury House, London EC1. Col Brian Kay presided.
Barnet RFC
Mr Sydney Chapman MP hosted a dinner on Saturday evening for members of Barnet Rugby Football Club and their ladies in the Members' Dining Room at the Palace of Westminster, London SW1, to celebrate the Club's 75th anniversary.
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