Anniversaries

Anniversaries

Births: Louis XI, King of France, 1423; Robert Adam, architect and designer, 1728; John Singleton Copley, portrait and historical painter, 1737; Leos Janacek, composer, 1854; William Henry Davies, poet, 1871; Sir Apirana Ngata, Maori statesman, 1874; George Michael Cohan, entertainer and songwriter, 1878; Franz Kafka, poet, 1883; Elizabeth Taylor (Coles), novelist, 1912. Deaths: Marie de'Medici, Queen of France, 1642; Theodor Herzl, Zionist leader, 1904; Joel Chandler Harris, creator of Uncle Remus, 1908; Rudy Vallee, singer, 1986. On this day: Idaho became the 43rd of the United States, 1890; John Logie Baird transmitted the first colour television, London 1928; food rationing ended, 1954; France proclaimed the independence of Algeria after a referendum, 1962; an Israeli commando force made an airborne raid on Entebbe airport, Uganda, to free 105 hostages from a hijacked aircraft, 1976; Paul Hamlyn sold his Octopus publishing group to Reed International for pounds 540m, 1987. Today is the Feast Day of St Anatolius of Constantinople, St Anatolius of Laodicea, St Bernardino Realino, St Helidorus of Altino, Saints Irenaeus and Mustiola, St Leo II, Pope, St Rumold or Rombaut and St Thomas the Apostle.