ON THIS DAY
1199: Richard I, Coeur de Lion, King of England, was killed in battle. 1483: The painter Raphael was born in Urbino, Italy – and died on the same day 37 years later. 1830: The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, whose adherents are known as Mormons, was founded by Joseph Smith in New York. 1843: William Wordsworth was appointed Poet Laureate – the day before his 73rd birthday. 1896: The opening ceremony of the first modern Olympic Games was held in Athens. 1909: US Commander Robert Peary became the first man to reach the North Pole – it was his sixth attempt in 15 years. 1917: The United States entered the First World War. 1944: Pay As You Earn income tax was introduced in Britain. The system was devised by Sir Cornelius Gregg. 1965: Early Bird, the first commercial communications satellite, was launched by the United States. 1994: The presidents of the African states of Rwanda and Burundi died in a plane crash. 2009: A 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck near L’Aquila, Italy, killing 307 people. ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: Janet Jackson announced she was delaying her Unbreakable tour because she and her husband were “planning their family”. BIRTHDAYS: Andre Previn, conductor, 88; Barry Levinson, film director and producer, 75; John Ratzenberger, actor, 70; Michael Rooker, actor, 62; Rory Bremner, impressionist, 56; Paul Rudd, actor, 48; Lord Frederick Windsor, son of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, 38; Fabrice Muamba, former footballer, 29.