Anniversaries

Anniversaries

Births: Ren Descartes, philosopher, 1596; Andrew Marvell, poet, pamphleteer and politician, 1621; Franz Joseph Haydn, composer, 1732. Deaths: John Donne, poet, 1631; John Constable, painter, 1837; Charlotte Bront, novelist, 1855; Jesse Owens (James Cleveland), athlete, 1980; Enid Bagnold (Lady Jones), novelist, 1981. On this day: in Paris, the Eiffel Tower was inaugurated, 1889; the Church in Wales was disestablished, 1920; Hampton Court Palace was badly damaged by fire, 1986. Today is the Feast Day of St Acacius or Achatius, St Balbina, St Benjamin and St Guy of Pomposa.