ON THIS DAY
1709: Samuel Johnson, poet and lexicographer, was born in Lichfield, Staffordshire, the son of a bookseller. His dictionary, which took him eight years to compile, contained some eccentric explanations, such as “Oats: A grain which in England is generally given to horses but in Scotland supports the people.” 1810: Chile revolted and gained independence from Spain. 1851: The New York Times was first published. 1905: Greta Garbo, the Swedish shop girl who became one of the most legendary film stars, was born. 1948: Some 7,000 tons of food supplies and petrol were airlifted into Berlin by British and American aircraft, defying a three-month Russian blockade. 1949: The British pound was devalued by 30% by Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir Stafford Cripps, from 4.03 dollars to 2.80 dollars. On the same day, the milk ration was reduced to two pints a week per person. 1951: The Al Read Show started on BBC radio, with Jimmy Edwards and Pat Kirkwood. 1961: UN secretary-general Dag Hammarskjold was killed when his plane was sabotaged and crashed in the jungle in Northern Rhodesia. 1970: Rock star Jimi Hendrix died in an ambulance on the way to hospital, apparently suffering from a drug overdose. 1976: In China, 800 million citizens paid a last tribute to their leader Mao Tse-Tung at the beginning of a memorial service. For three minutes, one-fifth of the world’s population stood in silence. 1981: France abolished execution by guillotine. ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: Davina McCall told how a fight with her best friend saved her life by forcing her to confront her heroin addiction. BIRTHDAYS: Peter Shilton, former goalkeeper/football manager, 68; John Aldridge, former football manager and TV pundit, 59; John Fashanu, TV presenter and former footballer, 55; Darren Gough, former cricketer, 47; Jada Pinkett Smith, actress/singer, 46; James Marsden, actor, 44; Sol Campbell, footballer, 43; Dizzee Rascal, singer/rapper, 33.