IT HAPPENED TODAY
100 BC:
Roman emperor Julius Caesar was born, not by Caesarean section, as often claimed, though his name comes from the Latin ‘to cut’.
1543:
Henry VIII married Catherine Parr, his sixth and last wife. She outlived him and married again after his death.
1730:
Josiah Wedgwood, renowned English pottery designer and manufacturer, was born in Burslem, Staffordshire.
1854:
George Eastman, US photographic pioneer who founded Kodak, was born in New York State. He chose the name Kodak because it was easy to remember.
1895:
Oscar Hammerstein, lyricist who with Richard Rodgers wrote Oklahoma, South Pacific, The Sound Of Music and The King And I, was born.
1910:
Charles Rolls, pioneering pilot and co-founder of Rolls-Royce, was killed when he crashed his biplane in a flying competition — becoming the first British aviation victim.
1920:
US president Woodrow Wilson officially opened the Panama Canal.
1969:
Tony Jacklin ( became the first British golfer since 1951 to win The Open.
1998:
South African president Nelson Mandela accompanies the Queen on a coach drive through London.
ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR:
An ‘evidence champion’ was appointed by the Government to boost the results and prospects of young people.
Frank Windsor, actor, 91; Christine McVie, singer, 75; Gareth Edwards, former rugby player, 71; Cheryl Ladd, actress, 67; Leah Bracknell, actress, 54; Gaby Roslin, TV presenter, 54; Annabel Croft, former tennis player, 52; Richard Herring, comedian, 51; Anna Friel ( actress, 42; Gareth Gates, singer, 34.