IT HAPPENED TODAY
1740:
The Marquis de Sade, the French aristocrat whose lifestyle gave rise to the word ‘sadism’, was born in Paris.
1840:
Thomas Hardy novelist and poet, was born in Dorset, where his father was a stonemason. Most of his stories are based in Dorset (Wessex) and his dog was called Wessex.
1857:
Composer Sir Edward Elgar was born in Broadheath, Worcestershire.
1896:
Marconi patented his broadcasting system.
1938:
Robert and Edward Kennedy, youngest sons of the American Ambassador to London, opened the children’s zoo in Regent’s Park. Children were charged sixpence to watch chimpanzees have a tea party.
1941:
Clothes rationing was introduced in Britain and not lifted until 1949.
1946:
Italy abolished its monarchy and became a republic.
1953:
Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in Westminster Abbey.
1954:
Lester Piggott at 18, became the youngest jockey to win the Derby when he rode Never Say Die to victory at Epsom. The colt, a 33-1 outsider, won by two lengths.
1997:
Timothy McVeigh was convicted on 15 counts of murder and conspiracy for his role in the 1995 Oklahoma bombing.
ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR:
Football fans were warned not to buy tickets for the Champions League final in Cardiff on the street because they could be stolen.
BIRTHDAYS:
Charlie Watts, Rolling Stones drummer, 77; Joanna Gleason, actress, 68; Tony Hadley, singer with Spandau Ballet, 58; Mark and Steve Waugh, former cricketers, 53; Jon Culshaw, comedian, 50; Zachary Quinto, actor, 41; Dominic Cooper,
actor, 40.