ON THIS DAY
1450:
Jack Cade, Irish-born physician, led an insurrection march of 40,000 through Kent to London to protest about laws of Henry VI. He was later beheaded.
1693:
The Ladies’ Mercury, the first magazine for women, was published.
1746:
Fresh from his defeat at Culloden, Bonnie Prince Charlie escaped over the sea to Skye, disguised as Irish maid Betty Burke. Flora MacDonald was with him.
1844:
Joseph Smith, the American founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) in 1830, was killed in Carthage Jail in Illinois.
1859:
Mildred Hill, teacher and composer of Happy Birthday To You, was born. She wrote the song, originally called Good Morning To All, to brighten up morning assembly for children. It is the most frequently sung song in English.
1954:
The first nuclear power station opened at Obninsk in Russia. 1967:
Britain’s first cash dispenser was opened by Barclay’s Bank in Enfield.
1971:
The first national Scrabble competition was held in London and was won by teacher Stephen Haskell.
1976:
Six Palestinian terrorists hijacked an Air France Airbus from Athens and forced it to fly to Entebbe in Uganda.
1990:
In Brussels, the European Commission ordered the Government to force British Aerospace to repay £44.4 million of “sweeteners” tied to the sale of the Rover Group. ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: Edgbaston cricket ground was used as a mass vaccination centre.
BIRTHDAYS:
Tommy Cannon, comedian, 84; Shirley Anne Field, actress, 84; Vera Wang, fashion designer, 73; Mary McAleese, former president of the Irish Republic, 71; Isabelle Adjani, actress, 67; Tobey Maguire, actor, 47; Kevin Pietersen, cricketer, 42; Khloe Kardashian, reality television star, 38.