This Day In European History

31st December

Events
1600: The East India Company is formed by a charter from Queen Elizabeth I of England.
1917: The first incidence of national food rationing in Britain as sugar is restricted.
1960: The last day the farthing coin is legal in Britain.

Births
1514: Andreas Vesalius, Flemish physician.
1720 'Bonnie' Prince Charles, the Young Pretender.
1738: Charles Cornwallis, English general.
1747: Gottfried Burger, German poet.
1845: Nikola Pašic, prime minister of Yugoslavia.
1869: Henri Matisse, French painter.
1937: Anthony Hopkins, British actor.

Deaths
192: Roman Emperor Commodus, killed in the arena.
1583: Thomas Erastus, Swiss physician.
1679: Giovanni Borelli, Italian physician.
1705: Catherine of Braganza, wife of King Charles II of England.
1719: John Flamsteed, English astronomer.
1877: Gustave Courbet, French painter.

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