ON THIS DAY

1394: Prince Henry the Navigator, who sponsored Portugal’s voyages of discovery, was born in Oporto. 1678: Antonio Lucio Vivaldi, composer and violinist, best known for The Four Seasons (1725), was born in Venice. 1789: The first Congress of the United States was held in New York. 1824: The Royal National Lifeboat Institution was founded. 1890: The 1,710-foot Forth Bridge was officially opened by the Prince of Wales. 1924: Happy Birthday To You was published by Clayton F Summy. 1941: British forces, assisted by local Norwegians, raided the Germanoccupied Lofoten Islands, destroying 11 ships. 1946: Housewives’ Choice, presented by Robert McDermott, began on BBC radio. 1967: North Sea gas was first piped ashore near Durham. 1969: At the Old Bailey, gangland twins Ronald and Reginald Kray were found guilty of murder and given life sentences. 1974: After the general election, Edward Heath failed to persuade the Liberals to join a coalition and resigned. Harold Wilson became prime minister of a minority administration, which lasted for eight months until fresh elections secured a Labour majority. 1980: Robert Mugabe became the prime minister of Zimbabwe, winning 57 of the 80 black seats in the 100-member assembly. 1989: Six people were killed in a rail crash at Purley, Surrey. ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: A report found that climate change made the weather conditions that fuelled Australia’s devastating wildfires more likely. BIRTHDAYS: Adrian Lyne, film director, 80; Michael Barratt, aka Shakin’ Stevens, singer/songwriter, 73; James Ellroy, novelist, 73; Kenny Dalglish, former football manager, 70; Chris Rea, rock musician, 70; Tim Vine, comedian, 54; Evan Dando, rock singer, 54; Patsy Kensit, actress, 53; Brooklyn Beckham, son of David and Victoria, 22.