Anniversaries

Anniversaries

Births: Adam Smith, political economist, 1723; Igor Fedorovich Stravinsky, composer, 1882; John Maynard Keynes, first Baron Keynes, 1883; Dame Ivy Compton-Burnett, novelist, 1884. Deaths: St Boniface, apostle of Germany, murdered 755; Henri Gaudier-Brzeska, sculptor, 1915; Georges-Leon Jules- Marie Feydeau, playwright, 1921. On this day: the hot-air balloon was first demonstrated by the Montgolfier brothers, 1783; Robert Francis Kennedy, US senator, was shot by an assassin, dying 25 hours later, 1968; Britain's first referendum was held, resulting in a two-to-one majority in favour of staying in the Common Market, 1975. Today is the Feast Day of St Boniface of Mainz or Crediton, St Dorotheus of Tyre, St Sanctius or Sancho and St Tudno.