Anniversaries: 9th December 1995

Anniversaries

TODAY: Births: John Milton, poet, 1608; Joel Chandler Harris, author and creator of "Uncle Remus", 1848; Clarence Birdseye, inventor of the deep-freezing process, 1886; Hermione Ferdinanda Gingold, actress, 1898. Deaths: Malcolm IV, King of Scotland, 1165; Sir Anthony Van Dyck, painter, 1641; Dame Edith Sitwell, author and poet, 1964. On this day: the first execution took place in Newgate Prison, London, 1783; the first episode of Coronation Street was televised, 1960; Lech Walesa was elected president of Poland, 1990. Today is the Feast Day of St Budoc or Beuzec, St Gorgonia, St Leocadia, St Peter Fourier and The Seven Martyrs of Samosata.

TOMORROW: Births: Cesar-Auguste Franck, composer, 1822; Emily Elizabeth Dickinson, poet, 1830; Ernest Howard Shepard, illustrator of Winnie the Pooh, 1879; Mary Pearson Norton, children's author, 1903. Deaths: Paolo Uccello (Paolo di Dono), painter, 1475; Alfred Bernhard Nobel, industrialist and philanthropist, 1896; Charles Rennie Mackintosh, architect and painter, 1928; Luigi Pirandello, playwright and novelist, 1936; Alfred Damon Runyon, writer, 1946. On this day: the Gregorian calendar was adopted in France, 1582; the first Nobel Prizes were awarded, 1901; Piccadilly underground station was opened in London, 1928; King Edward VIII abdicated, and became Duke of Windsor, 1936; the UN General Assembly issued the Declaration of Human Rights, 1948. Tomorrow is the Feast Day of St Edmund Gerhings, St Eulalia of Merida, St Eustace White, St Gregory III, pope, St John Roberts, Saints Mannas, Hermogenes and Eugraphus, St Melchiades or Miltiades, St Polydore Plaaden and St Swithin Wells.