ON THIS DAY
622: The traditional starting day of the Islamic Era, when a persecuted Muhammad fled from Mecca to Medina.
1723: Sir Joshua Reynolds, English portrait painter who was elected first President of the Royal Academy in 1768, was born.
1821: Mary Baker Eddy, US religious leader who founded the Christian Science movement, was born.
1918: The last Russian Tsar, Nicholas II, was murdered by the Bolsheviks along with his entire family in the cellar of a house in Ekaterinburg.
1935: The world’s first parking meters went into service in Oklahoma, devised by newspaper editor Carlton Magee.
1945: The first atomic bomb was detonated at an airbase in the desert of New Mexico.
1953: Hilaire Belloc, writer of many talents, died. He had written his own epitaph, which read: “When I am dead, I hope it may be said, his sins were scarlet but his books were read.”
1965: The seven-mile Mont Blanc road tunnel was opened, linking France with Italy.
1970: The first state of emergency in Britain since 1926 was called by Prime Minister Edward Heath as dockers went on strike.
ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR
A double portrait of the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall was released to mark Camilla’s 70th birthday.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS
Sir George Young, Leader of the House of Commons and Lord Privy Seal, 77; Frank Field, MP, 76; Ruben Blades, actor, 70; Lorraine Chase, actress, 67; Stewart Copeland, rock musician (The Police), 66; Michael Flatley, dancer, 60; Miguel Indurain, former cyclist, 54; Johnny Vaughan, TV and radio presenter, 52.