Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Anniversaries

Friday 13 May 1994 18:02 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

TODAY

Births: Thomas Gainsborough, painter, baptised 1727; Sir Squire Bancroft, actor and manager, 1841; Otto Klemperer, conductor, 1885.

Deaths: August Strindberg, playwright, 1912; James Gordon Bennett, newspaper proprietor, 1918; Henry John Heinz, food manufacturer, 1919; Sir Henry Rider Haggard, novelist, 1925; Jean Rhys (Williams), novelist, 1979.

On this day: Edward Jenner was successful in his first public vaccination experiment, 1796; the British mandate in Palestine ended and Israel was proclaimed an independent state, 1948; the Skylab space station was launched from Cape Kennedy, 1973.

Today is the Feast Day of St Carthage the Younger, St Erembert, St Mary Mazzarello, St Matthias, St Michael Garicoits and St Pontius of Cimiez.

TOMORROW

Births: Lyman Frank Baum, author of The Wizard of Oz, 1856; Pierre Curie, physicist, 1859; James Mason, actor, 1909.

Deaths: Edmund Kean, actor, 1833; Emily Elizabeth Dickinson, poet, 1886; Rita Hayworth (Margarita Carmen Cansino), actress, 1987.

On this day: the Ashmolean Museum, Oxfordwas founded, 1679; a British nuclear bomb was exploded at Christmas Island, in the central Pacific, 1957; Mme Edith Cresson became the first woman prime minister of France, 1991.

Tomorrow is the Feast Day of Saints Bertha and Rupert, St Dymphna, St Gerebernus, St Hallvard, St Hilary of Galeata, St Isaias of Rostov, St Isidore of Chios, St Isidore the Farmer, St Peter of Lampsacus and St Torquatus and his Companions.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in