FRIDAY APRIL 13 1742 First performance of Handel s oratorio Messiah, in Dublin. 1970 The US lunar probe Apollo 13 reported an explosion in one of its oxygen tanks. 1986 The US Masters was won by Jack Nicklaus for the sixth time. 1999 It was announc

FRIDAY APRIL 13

1742 First performance of Handel's oratorio Messiah, in Dublin.

1970 The US lunar probe Apollo 13 reported an explosion in one of its oxygen tanks.

1986 The US Masters was won by Jack Nicklaus for the sixth time.

1999 It was announced that the last shipyard on the Clyde was to close.

Deaths: Jimmy Logan, entertainer, 2001; Caron Keating, television presenter and daughter of Gloria Hunniford, 2004.

Today's birthdays: Edward Fox, actor, 70; Seamus Heaney, poet, 68; Peter Davidson, ex-Dr Who, 56; Stephen Byers, ex-Labour Cabinet minister, 54.

SATURDAY APRIL 14

1865 President Abraham Lincoln was shot while at a theatre in Washington.

1900 The World Exhibition opened in Paris.

1929 First Monaco Grand Prix held in Monte Carlo.

1931 First Highway Code published.

1962 Georges Pompidou became President of France.

Deaths: George Frederick Handel, composer, 1759; Simone de Beauvoir, writer, 1986; Anthony Newley, actor, 1999.

Today's birthdays: Loretta Lynn, country singer, 73; Julie Christie, actress, 67; Julian Lloyd Webber, cellist, 56; Robert Carlyle, actor, 46.

SUNDAY APRIL 15

1912 The Titanic sank after hitting an iceberg on it maiden voyage.

1989 Almost 100 people died after being crushed at Sheffield Wednesday's ground Hillsborough.

Deaths: Abraham Lincoln, US President, 1865; Matthew Arnold, English poet, 1888; Jean-Paul Satre, author and philosopher, 1980; Arthur Lowe, from Dad's Army, 1982; Tommy Cooper, comedian, 1984; Kenneth Williams, Carry On star, 1988; Greta Garbo, Hollywood legend, 1990; Leslie Charteris, creator of The Saint, 1993.

Today's birthdays: Marty Wilde, pop singer, 68; Jeffrey Archer, novelist and politician, 67; Emma Thompson, actress, 48; Samantha Fox, ex-Page 3 girl, 41.

MONDAY APRIL 16

1746 Bonnie Prince Charlie was defeated at Culloden Moor.

1917 Vladimir Lenin returned from exile in Switzerland to lead the Russian Revolution.

1953 The Queen launched the Royal yacht Britannia.

Deaths: Madame Tussaud, waxworks pioneer, 1850; Sir David Lean, director of Lawrence of Arabia and Doctor Zhivago, 1991.

Today's birthdays: Joan Bakewell, writer and broadcaster, 73; Ruth Madoc, from Hi-De-Hi, 64; Gerry Rafferty, musician, 60; Ellen Barkin, actress, 53; Jimmy Osmond, once of The Osmonds, 44.

TUESDAY APRIL 17

1956 First issue of Premium Bonds.

1960 Rock singer Eddie Cochran was killed when his taxi collided with a lamppost in London.

1980 Southern Rhodesia became Zimbabwe.

Deaths: Benjamin Franklin, US politician, 1790; Benny Hill, comedian, 1992; Linda McCartney, wife of Paul McCartney, 1998; Sir John Paul Getty III, philanthropist, 2003; Robert Atkins, creator of the Atkins Diet, 2003.

Today's birthdays: Robin Knox-Johnston, yachtsman, 68; Clare Francis, yachtswoman, 61; Olivia Hussey, actress, 56; Nick Hornby, author of Fever Pitch and High Fidelity, 50; Sean Bean, actor, 49; Victoria Beckham, once of the Spice Girls, 33.

WEDNESDAY APRIL 18

1881 The Natural History Museum opened in London.

1949 First Bob-a-Job Week was launched.

1981 First demonstration of a CD player.

Deaths: Albert Einstein, scientist, 1955.

Today's birthdays: Hayley Mills, actress, 61; James Woods, actor, 60; Haile Gebreselassie, Olympic 10,000 metres champion, 34.

THURSDAY APRIL 19

1951 First Miss World contest, held in London.

1956 Hollywood actress Grace Kelly married Prince Rainer of Monaco.

1958 Soccer legend Bobby Charlton made his first appearance for England.

1991 Dr George Carey became the 103rd Archbishop of Canterbury.

Deaths: George Gordon Byron, poet, 1824; Benjamin Disraeli, British Prime Minister, 1881; Charles Darwin, biologist, 1882; Pierre Curie, chemist and physicist, 1906; Daphne du Maurier, author of Rebecca, 1989; Frankie Howerd, comedian, 1992.

Today's birthdays: Dickie Bird, cricket umpire, 74; Michel Roux, celebrity chef, 66; Alan Price, singer-songwriter, 65; Tim Curry, actor, 61; Ruby Wax, television presenter, 54; Sue Barker, from A Question of Sport, 51; Kelly Holmes, British Olympic champion, 37.