This Day In European History

3rd January

Events
1521: Martin Luther, a key figure in the Protestant Reformation, is excommunicated by Pope Leo X; Luther is unrepentant.
1882: Oscar Wilde quips to US customs men "I have nothing to declare except my genius."
1911: The Siege of Sidney Street, in East London, ends after a gunfight between soldiers and anarchists.

Births
1698: Pietro Metastasio, Italian poet and singer.
1883: Clement Attlee, the British Prime Minster whose government introduced the Welfare State.
1892: J. R. R. Tolkien, British academic and author of 'The Lord of the Rings'.

Deaths
1543: Juan Cabrillo, Portuguese or Spanish explorer of California.
1670: George Monck, English General who fought for Parliament against Charles I and was key in the restoration of Charles II.
1641: Jeremiah Horrocks, English astronomer.
1705: Luca Giordana, Italian Painter.
1795: Josiah Wedgwood, British pottery producer.
1875: Pierre-Athanase Larousse, French encyclopedist.
1946: William Joyce, 'Lord Haw-Haw', executed for treason.

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