Anniversaries

Births: Sir William Schwenck Gilbert, librettist, 1836; Ignaz Jan Paderewski, pianist, composer and statesman, 1860; George Horace Gallup, public opinion pollster, 1901.

Deaths: Karl von Clausewitz, strategist, 1831; Marcel Proust, author, 1922; Mervyn Laurence Peake, author and artist, 1968.

On this day: William Caxton issued his first dated printed book, 1477; St Peter's, Rome, was consecrated, 1626; fire broke out at King's Cross underground station, and 30 people died, 1987; Terry Waite, held hostage in Beirut for four years, was released, 1991.

Today is the Feast Day of St Mawes or Maudez, St Odo of Cluny and St Romanus of Antioch.