Anniversaries

Anniversaries

Births: Bertrand Arthur William Russell, Third Earl, philosopher, 1872. Deaths: Elias Ashmole, antiquarian, 1692; Gustav Mahler, composer, 1911. On this day: Napoleon was proclaimed Emperor of France, 1804; India exploded her first nuclear bomb, 1974; in Washington State, US, Mount St Helens erupted in a power blast 500 times more powerful than the Hiroshima atom bomb, 1980. Today is the Feast Day of St Elgiva, St Eric, king of Sweden, St Felix of Cantalicio, St John I, pope, St Potamon and Saints Theodotus and Thecusa.