Anniversaries

Births: Philip de Koninck (Koning), painter, 1619; Washington Allston, landscape painter and author, 1779; Leon-Philippe Teisserenc de Bort, meteorologist and discoverer of the stratosphere, 1855; James Elroy Flecker, poet and playwright, 1884; Walter Wilhelm Gieseking, pianist, 1895; Vivien Leigh (Vivien Hartley), actress, 1913.

Deaths: Casimir III, King of Poland, 1370; Jesse Ramsden, astronomical instrument-maker, 1800; Pierre- Ambroise-Francois Choderlos de Laclos, soldier and writer, 1803; Maria Anna Angelica Kauffmann, painter, 1807; James Clerk Maxwell, physicist, 1879; Oscar Natzka, opera singer, 1951; Maurice Utrillo, painter, 1955; Mack Sennett (Michael Sinnott), film producer and director of comedies, 1960; King Peter of Yugoslavia, 1970; Lionel Trilling, author, 1975; Jacques Tati (Tatischeff), actor and director, 1982; Eamonn Andrews, television presenter, 1987; Fred MacMurray, actor, 1991.

On this day: the Gunpowder Plot was discovered, 1605; William of Orange landed at Brixham, Devon, 1688; the British sovereign abandoned the title 'King of France', 1800; Afghanistan surrendered to Britain, 1840; in Liverpool, the first British Woolworth's store opened, 1909; the Prince Regent of Bavaria was declared king as Ludwig III, 1913; on the outbreak of war with Turkey, Cyprus was annexed by Britain, 1914; the ex-Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany married Princess Hermine von Reuss at Doorn, Holland, 1922; the first automatic traffic lights in Britain were installed in Wolverhampton, 1927; the new Vienna Opera House was opened, 1955; after a train from Hastings to Charing Cross was derailed near Hither Green, London, 49 people were killed and 78 injured, 1967; Richard Nixon was elected as 37th US President, 1968.

Today is the Feast Day of St Bertilla of Chelles, Saints Elisabeth and Zachary, St Episteme and St Galation.