Anniversaries

Anniversaries

TODAY: Births: Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini, Italian leader, 1883; Lord Grimond (Joseph Grimond), former leader of the Liberal Party, 1913. Deaths: William Wilberforce, campaigner for the abolition of slavery, 1833; Vincent van Gogh, artist, committed suicide 1890; Luis Bunuel, film director, 1983; James David Graham Niven, actor, 1983. On this day: the Spanish Armada was defeated, 1588; the XIVth Olympic Games opened at Wembley, 1948; the Prince of Wales married Lady Diana Spencer, 1981. Today is the Feast Day of Saints Beatrice and Simplicius, St Felix II, antipope, St Faustinus and Beatrice, St Lupus of Troyes, St Martha, St Olav, King of Norway and St William of Saint-Brieuc.

TOMORROW: Births: Emily Jane Bronte, novelist, 1818; Henry Moore, sculptor, 1898. Deaths: Thomas Gray, poet, 1771; Ian Gow MP, killed by the IRA 1990. On this day: the first Penguin books were published, 1935; England won the Football World Cup, 1966. Tomorrow is the Feast Day of Saints Abdon and Sennen, St Julitta of Caesarea, St Peter Chrysologus and St Tatwin, archbishop of Canterbury.