On this day

At one time in the Scottish Highlands, this was called Crack-Nut Day and nuts were eaten in churches.

490BC: The original Marathon was won by a breathless messenger who ran 24 miles from the scene of the Battle of Marathon to the city of Athens. “Rejoice, we conquer,” he gasped – then dropped dead.

929: King Wenceslaus of Bohemia, Good King Wenceslas of the Christmas carol, was murdered by his younger brother, Boleslaw. 1685: Judge Jeffreys was appointed Lord Chancellor of England. 1745: God Save The King was first performed at Drury Lane Theatre, arranged by Thomas Arne. 1865: Elizabeth Garrett Anderson qualified to become Britain’s first practising woman doctor. 1923: The Radio Times was first published. 1964: Harpo Marx, the silent one who chased girls and played the harp, died aged 75. 1971: The UK parliament passed the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, banning the medicinal use of cannabis. 1978: Pope John Paul I died after only 33 days as Pontiff.

1991: Miles Davis, the legendary jazz trumpeter, died aged 65. He invented an entirely new sound which became known as “cool” jazz.