THIS WEEK

FEBRUARY 20, 1472

Orkney and Shetland were pawned by Norway to Scotland in lieu of a dowry for Margaret of Denmark.

The daughter of Christian I, she was pledged to James III to end a feud between the two countries but, short of cash, he pledged the islands as security until the dowry was paid – it never was.

FEBRUARY 21, 1965

Malcolm X (below) was assassinated in New York by three members of the Nation of Islam.

He’d left the NOI and became its fiercest critic.

The three attacked him during a speech, leaving him with 21 gunshot wounds.

FEBRUARY 22, 1983

Broadway flop Moose Murders opened – and closed – on the same night.

Described as a mystery farce, the lead actress had been replaced after two preview performances as she couldn’t remember her lines.

One outraged audience member grabbed a policeman, demanding: “Officer, arrest that show!”

FEBRUARY 22, 1987

The leading light of the pop art movement, Andy Warhol, died aged 58.

His most famous works depicted American icons such as Marilyn Monroe, Elvis and Campbell’s soup cans.

FEBRUARY 25, 1939

The first of 2.5 million Anderson air raid shelters was installed in London.

The corrugated iron shelters were issued free to all householders who earned less than £5 a week, and named after Sir John Anderson, who had responsibility for Britain’s air raid precautions.