SAINT PATRICK'S DAY - National Day of Ireland

1337: Edward, The Black Prince, was the first man to be created a Duke, and the Duchy of Cornwall was created.

1649: Oliver Cromwell abolished the office of King and declared England a Commonwealth.

1776: British troops were forced by George Washington to evacuate Boston.

1845: Elastic bands were patented by Stephen Perry at a firm of vulcanised rubber manufacturers of London.

1921 The first birth control clinic was set up in London by Dr Marie Stopes.

1938: Rudolf Nureyev, Russian ballet dancer who defected to the West, was born.

1945: The Americans defeated the Japanese at the Battle of Iwo Jima.

1978: The oil tanker Amoco Cadiz ran aground on the coast of Brittany, broke in half and spilled 220,000 tons of crude oil.

1983: Michael Dickinson, 33, achieved a unique record as trainer of the first five horses home in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

1989: Paul Channon, Transport Secretary, pushed the button which began the machine to bore the Channel Tunnel through chalk beneath the sea at Dover.

1995: The pound hit a record low against the German mark at 2.1890.

On this day last year: International Development Secretary Clare Short hinted she could quit the Cabinet if Britain joined US military action against Iraq.

BIRTHDAYS: Penelope Lively, writer, 70; Jeff Banks, fashion designer, 61; Patrick Duffy, actor (Dallas), 54; Kurt Russell, actor, 52; Lesley-Anne Down, actress, 49; Lee Dixon, footballer, 39; Rob Lowe, actor, 39; Billy Corgan, rock singer, 36; Alexander McQueen, fashion designer, 34; Stephen Gateley, pop singer (Boyzone), 27.