BORN ON THIS DAY

THOMAS BARNARDO (1845-1905). The Dublin-born founder of children’s charity Barnardo’s set up homes for destitute youngsters after being horrified to see london children sleeping in gutters. He vowed never to refuse a child, after an 11-year-old died of exposure, having been turned away from a full shelter. Famous ‘Barnardo’s children’ include dressmaker Bruce Oldfield and former footballer John Fashanu. lOuIS B MAyER (1885-1957). The Russianborn American movie mogul co-founded the MGM (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) studio. He stated his birthday was July 4 — u.S. independence day — as a sign of his patriotism (though some say he was born on July 12, 1884). The former scrap metal dealer became the highest-paid person in America, having pawned his wife’s wedding ring to start his movie empire.