Anniversaries

TODAY Births: The Rev Wilson Carlile, founder, Church Army, 1847; Dr Albert Schweitzer, missionary surgeon, 1875; Hal Roach, film producer and director, 1892; Sir Cecil Walter Hardy Beaton, photographer and stage designer, 1904. Deaths: Edmond Halley, astronom er, 1742; Lewis Carroll (Charles Lutwidge Dodgson), author, 1898; Humphrey DeForest Bogart, actor, 1957; Anais Nin, writer and poet, 1977. On this day: the Great Frost Fair began on the Thames, 1205; Puccini's opera Tosca was first performed, Rome1900; Marshal Tito was elected first president of the Yugoslav republic, 1953; the law requiring motorists to wear seat-belts was made permanent, 1986. Today is the Feast Day of St Antony Pucci, St Barbasymas or Barbascemin, St Datius, St Felix of Nola,St Ken tigern or Mungo, St Macrina the Elder, the Martyrs of Mount Sinai and St Sava.

TOMORROW Births: Moliere (Jean-Baptiste Poquelin), dramatist, baptised 1622; David Ivor Novello (Davies), actor, composer and director, 1893; Aristotle Onassis, shipowner, 1906; Martin Luther King, black civil rights leader, 1929. Deaths: Emma, Lady Hamilton, mistress to Lord Nelson, 1815; Frances Anne (Fanny) Kemble, actress, 1893; Daisy (Margaret Mary Julia) Ashford (Mrs James Devlin), author of The Young Visiters, 1972. On this day: the British Museum opened in London, 1759; the Dover-Folkestone railway tunnel collapsed, following heavy rains, 1877; women were able to take degrees at London University for the first time, 1878; the Aswan High Dam in Egypt was officially opened, 1971; Mrs Golda Meir was the first Israeli head of state to be receiv ed by the Pope, 1973. Tomorrow is the Feast Day of St Bonitus or Bonet, St Ceolwulf, St Isidore of Alexandria, St Ita, St John Calybites and St Macarius the Elder.