ON THIS DAY
NATIONAL DAY OF ITALY 1740: The Marquis de Sade, French aristocrat whose lifestyle gave rise to the word sadism, was born in Paris.
1840: Thomas Hardy, English novelist and poet, was born in Higher Bockhampton, Dorset, where his father was a stonemason. Most of his stories are based in Dorset ( Wessex) and his dog was called Wessex.
1857: Composer Sir Edward Elgar was born in Broadheath, Worcs.
1868: The first Trades Union Congress was held in Manchester.
1896: Marconi patented his broadcasting system using electromagnetic waves.
1938: Robert and Edward Kennedy, youngest sons of the American Ambassador to London, opened the children’s zoo in Regent’s Park. Children were charged sixpence to watch chimpanzees have a tea party.
1941: Clothes rationing was introduced in Britain and not lifted until 1949. Some 60 clothes coupons were allowed each year for all except baby clothes. One dress used 11 coupons, and a man’s suit took 26.
1946: Italy abolished its monarchy and became a republic.
1953: Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in Westminster Abbey on a dull, showery day. It was the first coronation to be televised.
1954: Lester Piggott, at 18, became the youngest jockey to win the Derby when he rode Never Say Die to victory at Epsom. The colt, a 33-1 outsider, won by two lengths.
1997: Timothy McVeigh was convicted on 15 counts of murder and conspiracy for his role in the 1995 Oklahoma bombing.
ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: Sussex looked set to become the third UK police force area where the top two policing roles are held by women.
BIRTHDAYS: Sally Kellerman, actress, 84; Stacy Keach, actor, 80; Charlie Watts, Rolling Stones drummer, 80; Joanna Gleason, actress, 71; Tony Hadley, singer (Spandau Ballet), 61; Mark and Steve Waugh, former cricketers, 56; Jon Culshaw, comedian, 53; Zachary Quinto, actor, 44; Dominic Cooper, actor, 43.