ON THIS DAY
■ST FRANCES DAY – the patron saint of housewives, motorists and bachelors.
■1562: Kissing in public was banned in Naples, contravention being punishable by death.
■1763: William Cobbett, political journalist and author of Rural Rides, was born in Farnham, Surrey.
■1796: Napoleon married society beauty Josephine de Beauharnais.
■1831: The French Foreign Legion was founded by King Louis Philippe, with headquarters at Sidi-bel-Abbes in Algeria.
■1862: The Battle of Hampton Roads, the first battle between ironclad ships, took place during the American Civil War.
■1917: Foreign intervention in the Russian Revolution begins as British troops land in Murmansk.
■1956: Britain deported Archbishop Makarios from Cyprus for “actively fostering terrorism”.
■1973: In a referendum boycotted by most Catholics, Northern Ireland voted in favour of staying in the UK by a majority of 90-1.
■1993: Rodney King testified at the federal trial of four Los Angeles police officers accused of violating his civil rights.
■ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made their last official appearance as senior royals – celebrating the Commonwealth with members of the monarchy.
■BIRTHDAYS: Neil Hamilton, MS and former Conservative MP, 72; Bill Beaumont, broadcaster and former rugby player, 69; Baron Willetts, member of the House of Lords, 65; Martin Fry, singer (ABC), 63; Juliette Binoche, actress, 57; Martin Johnson, former England rugby union team manager, 51; Kerr Smith, actor, 49; Juan Sebastian Veron, former footballer, 46; Oscar Isaac, actor, 42.
■ The recycled paper content of UK newspapers in 2016 was 62.8%
Across: 1 Alps; 3 Apposite; 9 Emanate; 10 Divan; 11 Highest score; 13 Stigma; 15 Nowell; 17 Minstrel show; 20 China; 21 Imitate; 22 Relieved; 23 Thus.
Down: 1 Amethyst; 2 Prang; 4 Pleats; 5 Old school tie; 6 Inverse; 7 Eons; 8 Made a mistake; 12 Flawless; 14 Initial; 16 Arrive; 18 Heath; 19 Scar.