ON THIS DAY
1792: Sir John Herschel, the astronomer who first mapped the stars of the southern hemisphere, was born in Slough.
1802: Sculptor and animal painter Sir Edwin Landseer was born in London. He designed the bronze lions at the base of Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square.
1875: Maurice Ravel, French composer (Bolero), was born.
1876: Alexander Graham Bell patented the first telephone.
1917: Dixie Jazz Band One-Step was the world’s first jazz record to be released – ironically by the all-white Original Dixieland Jazz Band.
1941: British troops invaded Italian-held Ethiopia.
1965: State troopers and local law enforcement assault 600 civil rights marchers in Selma, Alabama. The event was dubbed Bloody Sunday.
1975: The body of kidnapped heiress Lesley Whittle was found in a 60ft drain shaft. She had been held for 52 days then strangled by Donald Neilson, The Black Panther, who was later given five life sentences.
1989: China declares martial law in Lhasa, Tibet. Reports claim Chinese troops fired on Tibetan monks and civilians demanding independence, killing hundreds.
On this day last year: More than £100m had been raised to provide aid for Ukraine in what has been described as an “amazing show of support” from the UK public.
Birthdays
Michael Eisner, former Disney CEO, 81; Sir Ranulph Fiennes, explorer, 79; William Boyd, author, 71; Sir Vivian Richards, former cricketer, 71; Bryan Cranston, actor, 67; Ivan Lendl, former tennis player, 63; Mary Beth Evans, actor, 62; Rachel Weisz, actor, 53; Bel Powley, actor, 31.
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