Anniversaries

Anniversaries

Births: Charles Booth, shipowner and sociologist, 1840; Paul Verlaine, poet, 1844; Vincent van Gogh, painter, 1853; Sean O'Casey, playwright and writer, 1880. Deaths: George Bryan ``Beau'' Brummel, dandy and leader of fashion, 1840; Thomas Couture, painter, 1879; Rudolf Steiner, social philosopher, 1925; Airey Middleton Sheffield Neave MP, barrister and author, killed 1979; James Cagney, actor, 1986. On this day: the ``Sicilian Vespers'' rebellion broke out when the Sicilians fought against the Angevin French domination of the island, 1282; Thomas Francis Bayard, first US ambassador to Great Britain, arrived at his post, 1893; President Reagan was shot in the chest by John W. Hinckley Jnr, Washington DC 1981. Today is the Feast Day of St John Climacus, St Leonard Murialdo, St Ludolf, St Osburga, St Rieul or Regulus and St Zosimus of Syracuse.