ON THIS DAY

● 1564: Galileo Galilei, Italian astronomer and mathematician, was born in Pisa.

● 1842: The first adhesive stamp was used in the USA by the City Despatch Post, a private concern later acquired by the government for $1,200.

● 1874: The Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton was born in Kilkee, Co Clare.

● 1882: The first shipment of frozen meat left New Zealand for England.

● 1901: The first British Parliament of the 20th Century opened with a new member for Oldham. His name was Winston Churchill.

● 1913: Sir Barry Jackson opened the first repertory theatre, in Birmingham.

● 1942: Singapore surrendered to Japan. “A heavy and farreaching military defeat,” said Winston Churchill of the loss of the fortress.

● 1965: Nat King Cole, US singer and pianist, died of cancer.

● 1971: Britain changed over to decimal coinage on Decimal Day.

● 1981: Football League games were played on a Sunday for the first time.

● ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: Scientists discovered a certain type of stem cell could train the immune system to attack the growth of tumours.

● BIRTHDAYS: Gerald Harper, actor, 90; Glyn Johns, music producer, 77; Clare Short, Labour politician, 73; Jane Seymour, actress, 68; Matt Groening, The Simpsons creator, 65; Ali Campbell, singer (UB40), 60; Alexander Wurz, racing driver, 45; Ronnie Vannucci Jr, drummer (The Killers), 43.