ON THIS DAY

Birthdays: from left, Ruby Wax, Maria Sharapova and Trevor Francis

1587:

Sir Francis Drake sailed into Cadiz harbour and sank the Spanish fleet - an action known as “singeing the King of Spain’s beard”.

In Lexington, the opening shot was fired, by a British general, in the American War of Independence. This was the shot “heard around the world”.

Poet Lord Byron died of a fever at Missolonghi while aiding Greek insurgents against the Turks in their fight for independence.

Death of biologist Charles Darwin, whose theory of evolution revolutionised scientific thinking.

1775: 1824: 1882: 1906:

Pierre Curie, French physicist who worked with his wife on magnetism and radioactivity and who discovered radium, was killed in a carriage accident in Paris.

Mae West was found guilty of indecent behaviour in her Broadway production of Sex. She was sentenced to 10 days in prison and fined $500.

Prince Rainier III of Monaco married actress Grace Kelly.

The Simpsons premieres as a short cartoon on the Tracy Ullman Show.

Timothy McVeigh and Terry

1927: 1956: 1987: 1995:

Nichols carried out a bomb attack on Oklahoma City, USA killing 168 people.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected as the successor to Pope John Paul II. The new Pope took the name Pope Benedict XVI.

Alan Price, musician, 76; Tim Curry, actor, 72; Ruby Wax, comedienne, 65; Trevor Francis, former footballer and manager, 64; Sue Barker, sports broadcaster, 62; Ashley Judd, actress, 50; Kate Hudson, actress, 39; Kelly Holmes, former Olympic athlete, 48; Maria Sharapova, tennis player, 31.

2005: BIRTHDAYS:

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