Today in history

On this date:

In AD 345, Paul of Thebes, traditionally considered the first Christian hermit and an inspiration for Antony of Egypt and later Christian monasticism, died.

In 1535, Henry VIII declared himself head of the English Church.

In 1559, Queen Elizabeth I was crowned after the death of her half-sister, Mary. Protestantism, which had been persecuted under Bloody Mary, was immediately restored as the official church of England. Elizabeth, the only child of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, took England through one of its greatest eras. Her 45-year reign marked the growth of commerce, the defeat of the Spanish Armada and the flourishing of art, music and literature.

In 1622, French dramatist Jean Baptiste Moliere was born.

In 1634, the first seigneury in Canada — at Beauport, Que. — was awarded to Robert Giffard.

In 1759, the British Museum opened in London. Today the museum, which is free to visitors, houses more than seven million objects representing many cultures.

In 1827, to test the resistance of an asbestos suit, a volunteer in Paris walked into a huge oven, holding a raw steak. He emerged a few minutes later in good health – the steak was overdone.

In 1836, the formation of armed groups was prohibited in Lower Canada.