Anniversaries
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Births: Baruch (Benedict) de Spinoza, philosopher, 1632; Laurence Sterne, novelist, 1713; Zachary Taylor, 12th US president, 1784; Grace Horsley Darling, heroine of the wreck of the Forfarshire, 1815; George Augustus Henry Sala, journalist, 1828; Justin M'Carthy, politician, historian and novelist, 1830; Lilli Lehmann, operatic soprano, 1848; Frances Eliza Hodgson Burnett, writer, 1849; Henri-Marie-Raymond de Toulouse-Lautrec, painter, 1864; Scott Joplin, ragtime pianist and composer, 1868; Konstantin Alexandrovich Fedin, novelist, 1892; Herbert William Sutcliffe, cricketer, 1894.
Deaths: John Knox, religious reformer, 1572; William Lamb, second Viscount Melbourne, statesman, 1848; Sir Henry Havelock, soldier, 1857; Rev Dr George Croly, poet and romance writer, 1860; Albert F. Bellows, landscape painter, 1883; Edward Robert Bulwer Lytton, first Earl of Lytton ("Owen Meredith"), diplomat and poet, 1891; Robert Erskine Childers, Irish nationalist and novelist, executed 1922; Georges Clemenceau, statesman, 1929; Lord Craigavon (James Craig), statesman, 1940; Edgar Algernon Robert, first Viscount Cecil, a founder of the League of Nations, 1958; Ruth Chatterton, actress, 1961; Rodney Ackland (Bernstein), playwright, 1991; Freddie Mercury, rock singer, 1991.
On this day: the English Parliament decided that clergy were permitted to marry, 1548; Jeremiah Horrocks and William Crabtree first observed the transit of Venus, 1639; Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) was discovered by Abel Tasman, 1642; a frost fair was held on the frozen River Thames, 1715; a sudden eruption of Vesuvius occurred, 1759; Darwin's Origin of Species was published, 1859; the meat market in London was opened at Smithfield, 1868; Japan and Germany signed the Anti-Comintern Pact, 1936; Lee Harvey Oswald was shot while in police custody by Jack Ruby, 1963; a Greek archaeologist confirmed that a tomb found in Northern Greece was that of Philip II of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great, 1977; in Czechoslovakia, the Communist party leader and Politburo resigned, as Alexander Dubcek returned to Prague, 1989.
Today is the Feast Day of St Chrysogonus, St Colman of Cloyne and Saints Flora and Mary.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments