20/04/10

The University of Rome La Sapienza was founded in 1303.  Oliver Cromwell dissolved the Rump Parliament in 1653.  Louis Pasteur and Claude Bernard completed the first tests of pasteurisation in 1862.  Pierre and Marie Curie refined radium chloride in 1902.  Billie Holiday recorded "Strange Fruit" in 1939.  Enoch Powell delivered his "Rivers of Blood" speech in 1968.  In 1999, twelve students and one teacher were killed and 24 other students were injured at Columbine High School in Colorado when two students went on a shooting rampage through the school.

 Born today:  Muhammad (571-632), Joan Miró (1893-1983), Lionel Hampton (1908-2002), Tito Puente (1923-2000), George Takei (1937).

It is the feast day of Blessed Oda of Brabant.