This Day In European History

29th April

Events
1376: Sir Peter de la Mare becomes the first Speaker of the House of Commons.
1429: The Siege of Orleans is lifted thanks partly to Joan of Arc.
1624: Cardinal Richelieu, important French statesman and literary villain, is made Chief Minister of France.
1885: Oxford University allows women to apply.
1913: Gideon Sundback, a Swede, patents the modern zip.
1935: The first 'cat's eyes' are placed along Britain's road.

Births
1347: Catherine of Siena, mystic and Italian patron saint.
1762: Jean Baptiste Jourdan, French marshall.
1818: Tsar Alexander II of Russia, emancipator of the serfs.
1854: Jules-Henri Poincaré, French scientist and mathematician.
1879: Thomas Beecham, British conductor.

Deaths
1109: Hugh of Cluny, French Abbot.
1676: Michiel Adriaanszoon, Dutch Admiral and key figure in the second and third Anglo-Dutch wars.
1707: George Farquhar, Irish playwright.
1750: Egid Quirin Asam, German designer.
1951: Ludwig Wittgenstein, Austro-Anglo philosopher.

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