ON THIS DAY
1633: Samuel Pepys, diarist, was born in Fleet Street, London, the son of a tailor. 1685: George F Handel was born in Halle, Saxony. He settled in England and became court composer to George II. 1820: The Cato Street conspiracy to assassinate Cabinet ministers was discovered. The plotters were executed. 1821: John Keats, English poet famous for his odes, died of tuberculosis in Rome, aged 25. 1836: The Mexican army laid siege to the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas. 1863: British explorers John Speke and JA Grant announced the discovery of the Nile’s source. 1915: French actress Sarah Bernhardt had her right leg amputated, but she was back on stage by November. 1920: The first regular broadcasting service in Britain started from Marconi’s studio in Chelmsford. The 30-minute programme was transmitted twice daily. 1950: Election results were first televised. 1953: An amnesty offered by the Government to Second World War deserters brought in applications from more than 3,000 servicemen and 14 servicewomen. BIRTHDAYS: Peter Fonda, actor, 75; Howard Jones, singer, 60; Helena Sukova, former tennis player, 50; Melinda Messenger, TV presenter, 44; Kelly Macdonald, actress, 39; Gareth Barry, footballer, 34; Emily Blunt, actress, 32; Dakota Fanning, actress, 21. QUOTES OF THE DAY: “I lacked the brains of a parrot to be able to spew back the facts for good grades. I still can’t spell, but have managed to write a bestseller and stage show” - Ruby Wax on her school days. “After five years in government propping up the toxic Tories, all Nick Clegg and his party have to show is a trail of broken promises. It is no wonder trust in the LibDems is at rock bottom” - Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister. “I don’t understand why kids need drugs. God, at that age, if you are not feeling frisky enough then you’ll never be frisky” - Ken Dodd. “He looks capable and meaty” - One description of shadow chancellor Ed Balls on a survey carried out by Mumsnet, the parenting website, on the sexiness of politicians. “’Retirement’ is the rudest word in the dictionary. And ‘old’ is another one. I don’t allow that in my house. And being called ‘vintage’. I don’t want any of those old words” - Actress Dame Judi Dench, 80. “Some critics say I am bumptious and can be pompous. If people say that, there may be truth in it” - John Bercow, Commons speaker.