ON THIS DAY
ST SWITHIN’S DAY 862: St Swithin, Saxon Bishop of Winchester, died. He asked to be buried outside where rain could fall on his grave. Some 108 years later on this day, devoted monks decided to move the body from the “vile and unworthy grave”. Whereupon, a sudden deluge drenched the funeral party and it rained for nearly seven weeks afterwards. The exhumation was abandoned. 1099: Jerusalem was captured by the Crusaders, ending centuries of Muslim rule. 1573: Inigo Jones, classical-style architect, was born in London. 1606: Rembrandt (Harmenszoon van Rijn), Dutch painter, was born. 1685: The Duke of Monmouth was executed for leading a rebellion against his uncle, James II. 1815: Napoleon surrendered to Captain Maitland of the ship Bellerophon at Rochefort. 1869: Margarine was patented in France by Hippolyte Mege Mouries of Paris. 1912: National Insurance or social payment, devised by Lloyd George, began in Britain. 1948: Alcoholics Anonymous was founded in London, having been in existence in America since 1935. 1965: Close-up pictures of Mars were transmitted by TV from the Mariner IV satellite. ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: France launched a terrorism investigation into a high-speed lorry attack in Nice. BIRTHDAYS: Sir Harrison Birtwistle, composer, 83; Lord Winston, doctor, scientist, politician, and television presenter, 77; Linda Ronstadt, singer, 71; Trevor Horn, record producer, 68; Celia Imrie, actress, 65; Forest Whitaker, actor, 56; Brigitte Nielsen, actress, 54; David Miliband, politician, 52; Diane Kruger, actress, 41.