THURSDAY MAY 11 1971 The last edition of the Daily Sketch published. 2000 The Tate Modern art gallery opened. Birthdays: Jeremy Paxman, Newsnight inquisitor, 56; Natasha Richardson, actress, 43; John Parrott, snooker player, 42. FRIDAY MAY 12 1951 First

THURSDAY MAY 11

1971 The last edition of the Daily Sketch published.

2000 The Tate Modern art gallery opened.

Birthdays: Jeremy Paxman, Newsnight inquisitor, 56; Natasha Richardson, actress, 43; John Parrott, snooker player, 42.

FRIDAY MAY 12

1951 First US H-bomb tested, on Eniwetok Atoll in the South Pacific.

1982 British troops landed on the Falkland Islands.

Birthdays: Burt Bacharach, composer, 78; Susan Hampshire, actress, 68; Chris Patten, ex-Tory MP and last Governor of Hong Kong, 62; Alan Ball, England 1966 World Cup hero, 61.

SATURDAY MAY 13

1787 First convict ship set sail from Portsmouth to Australia.

Birthdays: Tim Piggott-Smith, actor, 60; Zoe Wanamaker, from My Family, 57; Stevie Wonder, singer-songwriter, 56; Peter Gabriel, singer-songwriter, 56; Rosie Boycott, ex-editor of the Daily Express, 55; Richard Madeley, from Richard and Judy, 50.

SUNDAY MAY 14

1940 The Home Guard was set-up.

1973 The Skylab space station launched.

1999 Kevin Keegan became England's new coach.

2001 Silvio Berlusconi became Prime Minister of Italy.

Birthdays: Chay Blythe, round-the-world yachtsman, 66; George Lucas, creator of Star Wars, 62; Francesa Annis, actress, 62; Cate Blanchett, actress, 37.

MONDAY MAY 15

1858 The Royal Opera House opened in Covent Garden.

1862 First baseball stadium opened at the Union Grounds in New York.

Birthdays: Ted Dexter, ex-England Test cricket batsman, 71; Brian Eno, record producer, 57; Mike Oldfield, composer, 53; Zara Phillips, daughter of the Princess Royal, 25.

TUESDAY MAY 16

1804 Napoleon was declared Emperor of France.

1929 First Academy Awards ceremony took place in Hollywood.

Birthdays: Roy Hudd, comedian, 70; Judy Finnegan, of Richard and Judy, 58; Pierce Brosnan, ex-James Bond, 53; Hazel O'Connor, singer, 51.

WEDNESDAY MAY 17

1943 Wing commander Guy Gibson led The Dam Buster raids.

1973 US Senate began hearings into the Watergate scandal.

Birthdays: Simon Hughes, Liberal Democrat MP, 55; Debra Winger, actress, 51; Sugar Ray Leonard, boxing champion, 50; Paul Whitehouse, comedian, 48; Jeremy Vine, broadcaster, 41.