Anniversaries

Anniversaries

Births: Farinelli (Carlo Broschi), castrato singer, 1705; Sir John Ross, Arctic explorer, 1777; William Henry (W.H.) Smith, bookseller and politician, 1825; Horatio Herbert, Earl Kitchener, soldier, 1850; Jack Dempsey, heavyweight boxer, 1895; Brian Alexander Johnston, broadcaster and cricket commentator, 1912. Deaths: Ferdinand I (the Great), King of Castile and Len, 1065; Stephen Grover Cleveland, 22nd and 24th US President, 1908; Walter Rathenau, German statesman, assassinated 1922; Bernard (Benny) Green, saxophonist, writer and broadcaster, 1998. On this day: Robert the Bruce and his army defeated the forces of Edward II at Bannockburn, 1314; Napoleon's armies invaded Russia, 1812; the training of nurses began at St Thomas's Hospital, London, 1860; the blockade of Berlin by the Soviet Union began, 1948; the Mersey Tunnel was opened, 1971. Today is the Feast Day of St Bartholomew of Farne, St John the Baptist, St Ralph or Raoul of Bourges and St Simplicius of Autun.