Anniversaries

Anniversaries

Births: Michelangelo (Michelagniolo Buonarroti), painter, sculptor and poet, 1475; Savinien Cyrano de Bergerac, novelist and playwright, 1619; Elizabeth Barrett Browning, poet, 1806; Frankie Howerd (Francis Alex Howard), comedian, 1922. Deaths: Francis Beaumont, playwright, 1616; Louisa May Alcott, novelist, 1888; Gottlieb Daimler, mechanical engineer, 1900; John Philip Sousa, bandmaster and composer, 1932; David Ivor Novello (Davies), composer and playwright, 1951; George Formby (William Hoy Booth), singer and comedian, 1961; Zoltan Kodly, composer, 1967; Pearl Buck (Sydenstricker), novelist, 1971; Donald Maclean, diplomat and Soviet agent, 1983; Sir Hugh Fraser, politician, 1984; Melina Mercouri (Amalia-Maria Mercouri), politician and actress, 1994. On this day: Verdi's La Traviata was first performed, Venice 1853; British soldiers were granted the right to wear spectacles on or off duty, 1902; the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre at Stratford-upon- Avon was destroyed by fire, 1926; frozen food was first put on sale by the Birdseye company, 1930; Ghana became independent, 1957. Today is the Feast Day of Saints Balred and Bilfrid, St Cadroe, St Chrodegang of Metz, St Colette, Saints Cyneburga, Cyneswide and Tibba, St Cyril of Constantinople, St Fridolin, St Ollegarius or Oldegar and Saints Perpetua and Felicity.