ON THIS DAY
1804: Johann Strauss the Elder, composer of waltzes, was born in Vienna.
1879: Albert Einstein, physicist and mathematician, was born in Ulm, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany.
1883: Death of German philosopher and father of Communism Karl Marx.
1885: First production of The Mikado, by Gilbert and Sullivan, at the Savoy Theatre, London.
1939: The ‘Timeless’ Test between South Africa and England in Durban ended – it started on March 3 – because the England players had to rejoin their ship.
1961: The New English Bible was published.
1964: Jack Ruby was found guilty in Dallas of killing Lee Harvey Oswald, alleged assassin of President John F Kennedy, and was sentenced to death. He died of a blood clot in the lung in 1967.
1984: Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams was shot and seriously injured by Loyalist gunmen.
1991: The Birmingham Six – six Irishmen jailed in 1975 for their alleged part in the IRA Birmingham pub bombings and the murder of
21 people – were freed after the court of appeal quashed their convictions.
BIRTHDAYS: Sir Michael Caine, actor/author, 87; Quincy Jones, producer/composer, 87; Wolfgang Petersen, film director, 79; Rita Tushingham, actress, 78; Jasper Carrott, actor/comedian, 75; Pam Ayres, poet, 73; Billy Crystal, actor/ comedian/director, 72; Tessa Sanderson, former athlete, 64; Prince Albert of Monaco, 62; Nicolas Anelka, football manager and former player, 41; Jamie Bell, actor, 34.