What Was Happening On Your Birthday?

Here's something that's fun to browse: what was happening on your birthday throughout history. Here's how you find out: go to Wikipedia and, in the search box on the left hand side, type in the month and day of your birthday (not the year), then click on "Go." When I entered my birthday, I found out that the following events had taken place (among many others): • 1653: Oliver Cromwell took over as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland • 1773: the Boston Tea Party Of the many people who had been born that day, there were several with whom I'm proud to share a birthday: • 1485: Catherine of Aragon (first wife of Henry the VIII of England) • 1770: Ludwig van Beethoven • 1775: Jane Austen (my all-time favourite author) • 1899: Noel Coward • 1917: Arthur C. Clarke • 1928: Philip K. Dick Of course, some people died on this day too, including the following: • 1859: Wilhelm Grimm (one half of the brothers Grimm) • 1916: Rasputin • 1965: W. Somerset Maugham • 1980: Colonel Sanders Via The Worlds of Paul M. Jessup through Metaxu Cafe.