Anniversaries

Births: Alexis-Henri Maurice-Charles Clerel de Tocqueville, historian and politician, 1805; Fritz Lubrich, singer, writer and editor, 1862; Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini, Fascist leader, 1883; Sigmund Romberg, composer, 1887; Hjalmar Hammarskjold, Secretary-General of the United Nations, 1905; Lord Grimond (Joseph Grimond), former leader of the Liberal party, 1913.

Deaths: David Teniers the Elder, painter, 1649; William Wilberforce, campaigner for the abolition of slavery, 1833; Robert Alexander Schumann, composer, 1856; Vincent van Gogh, artist, committed suicide 1890; Sir John (Giovanni Battista) Barbirolli, conductor, 1970; Erich Kastner, author, 1974; Herbert Marcuse, philosopher, 1979; James David Graham Niven, actor, 1983.

On this day: Mary, Queen of Scots married Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, 1565; the Spanish Armada was defeated, 1588; JB Priestley's best-selling novel The Good Companions was published, 1929; the Prince of Wales married Lady Diana Spencer, 1981.

Today is the Feast Day of Saints Beatrice and Simplicius, St Felix II, antipope, St Faustinus and Beatrice, St Lupus of Troyes, St Martha, St Olav, King of Norway and St William of Saint-Brieuc.