Anniversaries

Births: Gerard de Nerval (Gerard Labrunie), poet and writer, 1808; Wilhelm Richard Wagner, composer, 1813; Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, novelist, 1859; Thomas Edward Neil Driberg, first Baron Driberg, politician and journalist, 1905; Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier, actor and director, 1907. Deaths: Constantine the Great, Roman Emperor, 337; Victor-Marie Hugo, author, 1885; Cecil Day Lewis, poet and author, 1972; Rajiv Gandhi, former Indian prime minister, assassinated 1991. On this day: the Lancastrians defeated the Yorkists at the Battle of St Albans, 1455; the Blackwall Tunnel under the Thames was officially opened, 1897; Italy joined the Allies, 1915; Ceylon changed its named to Sri Lanka and became a republic, 1972. Today is the Feast Day of St Aigulf of Ayoul or Bourges, Saints Castus and Aemilius, St Helen of Caernarvon, St Humility, St Joachima de Mas, St Julia of Corsica, St Quiteria, St Rita (Margarita) of Cascia and St Romanus.

Chagos: Conservationists are swimming in murky waters

"Being in Chagos is an incredibly special experience," says Rachel Jones, deputy team leader of the ...

Game of Thrones ‘Second Sons’ – Season 3, episode 8

Even though there was a complete absence of our favourite odd couple Brienne and Jaime, we got anoth...

Made in Chelsea – Series 5, Episode 7

If you had any doubt where Binky gets her brilliantly brassy disregard for social graces, episode se...

Nike kit deal puts England at No 2 in the world (but which country is top?)

As England’s new football strip – made by Nike – is revealed today, new research shows the English F...

Most Viewed
Most Commented
Most Shared

Get your summer started with British Military Fitness

BMF is the UK’s biggest and best loved outdoor fitness classes

Visit York Prizes & offers Business videos

Visit York

Find out what The Independent's resident travel expert has to say about one of the most beautiful small cities in the world

Military Fitness Prizes & offers Business videos

Enter the latest Independent competitions

Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.

Military Fitness Visit York Business videos

Business videos from commercial thought leaders

Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.

Military Fitness Visit York Prizes & offers

Masculinity in crisis?

'There is a battle going on inside us that is never discussed'

Have US shock jocks gone too far?

An incendiary remark from Rush Limbaugh may be the beginning of the end for outspoken right-wing US broadcasters

The ‘Beverly Hills’ of Surrey

Elmbridge pays more income tax than big cities of the North

Heavenly Bodies

Michael Landy's artistic marriage made in heaven... and hell

'He will always be a friend'

Jackie Stewart backs Roman Polanski

The price of pacifism

From the Second World War refusenik to the 19-year-old Israeli, Holly Williams talks to five people who risked shame and suffering to take a stand as conscientious objector.