Anniversaries

TODAY Births: Franz Liszt, composer, 1811; Sarah Bernhardt (Henriette-Rosine Bernard), actress, 1844; Lord Alfred Bruce Douglas, poet, 1870.

Deaths: Charles Martel, leader of the Franks, 741; Thomas Sheraton, cabinet-maker, 1806; Henry Richard Vassall Fox, third Baron Holland, author and statesman, 1840; Paul Cezanne, painter, 1906; Pablo Casals, cellist, 1973; Arnold Joseph Toynbee, historian, 1975; Nadia Juliette Boulanger, music teacher, conductor and composer, 1979.

On this day: Andre-Jacques Garnerin made the first parachute jump, from a balloon over Paris, 1797; the magazine Tit-Bits was first published, 1881; the Metropolitan Opera House opened, New York 1883; Dr Hawley Harvey Crippen was found guilty of the murder of his wife, 1910; the Trans-Australian railway (Kalgoorlie to Port Augusta) was opened for traffic, 1917; Don Juan Carlos of Bourbon was proclaimed King of Spain, 1975.

Today is the Feast Day of St Abercius, St Donatus of Fiesole, St Mellon or Mallonus, Saints Nunilo and Alodia and St Philip of Heraclea and his Companions.

TOMORROW Births: Pierre-Athanase Larousse, lexicographer and encyclopaedist, 1817; Robert Seymour Bridges, poet, 1844; Douglas Robert Jardine, cricketer, 1900; Felix Bloch, physicist, 1905; Diana Dors (Diana Fluck), actress, 1931.

Deaths: Marcus Junius Brutus, committed suicide 42 BC; Pierre-Jules Theophile Gautier, author, William Gilbert Grace, cricketer, 1915; John Boyd Dunlop, inventor of the pneumatic rubber tyre, 1921; Al Jolson (Asa Yoelson), singer and actor, 1950.

On this day: the second Battle of Philippi was fought, 42 BC; both Royalists and Parliamentarians claimed victory at the Battle of Edgehill, 1642; the first parliament of Great Britain met, 1707; Hector Munro defeated the Nabob of Oudh in Bengal, 1764; the United Nations General Assembly met for the first time, New York, 1946; the Hungarian revolt against Soviet leadership began, 1956; at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, Gary Gabelich in Blue Flame made the world land speed record of 631.367mph, 1970.

Tomorrow is the Feast Day of St Allucio, St Elfleda or Ethelfleda, St Ignatius of Constantinople, St John of Capistrano, St Romanus of Rouen, St Severinus or Seurin of Bordeaux, St Severinus Boethius and St Theodoret.