IT HAPPENED TODAY

1154:

Nicholas Breakspear became theonlyEnglishPope—asAdrianIV.

The Observer, the oldest Sunday newspaper in the United Kingdom, was first published.

Edith Cavell (above), the nurse shot by the Germans in 1915 for helping refugees, was born in Norfolk.

1878:

Novelist Bram Stoker (31) weds Florence Balcombe (20) in Dublin.

1921:

Roscoe ‘Fatty’ Arbuckle, silent film comedian, was found not guilty by 10-2 of rape and manslaughter. He was retried twice and found not guilty both times, but his career was ruined.

1935:

The game of Monopoly was born — the brainchild of unemployed engineer Charles Darrow.

1937:

The Dandy comic was first published by DC Thomson, featuring Desperate Dan (below).

1947:

Tennessee Williams’s play A Streetcar Named Desire was premiered on Broadway with Marlon Brando and Jessica Tandy in the leading roles.

1954:

The first Burger King opens in Miami, Florida.

1971:

the UVF explode a bomb at a Catholic-owned pub, McGurk’s Bar in Belfast, killing 15 Catholic civilians and wounding 17 others.

ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR:

Prince Harry joined past and present members of the London Fire Brigade (LFB) for its annual carol service.

BIRTHDAYS:

Gemma Jones, actress, 76; Jeff Bridges, actor, 69; Pamela Stephenson (below), comedy actress turned therapist, 69; Paul McGrath, former footballer, 59; Marisa Tomei, actress, 54; Jay-Z, rapper, 49; Kevin Sussman, actor, 48; Tyra Banks, model, 45; Kate Rusby, folk musician, 45.