Anniversaries

Anniversaries

TODAY: Births: Maj-Gen Sir Ralph Abercromby, soldier, 1734; Heinrich Himmler, head of the Nazi SS, 1900. Deaths: Edgar Allan Poe, novelist, 1849; Oliver Wendell Holmes, physician and writer, 1894; Clarence Birdseye, inventor of quick-freezing, 1956; Mario Lanza (Alfredo Arnold Cocozza), singer, 1959. On this day: Crete revolted against Turkey and proclaimed its union with Greece, 1908; the German Democratic Republic was set up in Eastern Germany, 1949; the Independent was first published, 1986. Today is the Feast Day of St Artaldus or Arthaud, St Helanus, St Justina of Padua, St Mark, pope and St Osyth.

TOMORROW: Births: Eddie (Edward Vernon) Rickenbacker (Rickenbacher), First World War fighter pilot, 1890; Juan Pern, president of Argentina, 1895. Deaths: Henry Fielding, novelist, 1754; Clement Richard Attlee, first Earl Attlee, statesman, 1967. On this day: the final consecration of St Mark's, Venice, took place, 1085; King's College London was opened, 1831; the Post Office Tower opened in London, 1965. Today is the Feast Day of St Demetrius, St Simeon Senex, St Keyne, St Marcellus, St Pelagia (or Margaret) the Penitent, St Reparata of Caesarea, and St Thais.