A poet appointed for life as an officer of the royal household who is expected to write poems in celebration of the court and national events.
Poet laureate
Fact of the Day
One of the English ships sent on the disastrous attack on Cadiz in 1625 had sails that had been used during the Armada, almost 40 years earlier.
Quote of the Day
"Revolution is not an apple that falls when it's ripe. You have to make it fall.
"
~ Che Guevara
On This Day
43 BCE The assassination of Cicero, requested by Marc Antony. When his head was delivered to Anthony, his wife, Fulvia, spat on it and jabbed hairpins into his tongue.
1732 The Theatre Royal, now known as the Covent Garden Opera House, opened with a performance of the Beggar's Opera.
1787 Delaware became the first state of the modern United States.
1817 Rear-Admiral William Bligh died. He had been captain of HMS Bounty during the mutiny.
1941 The Japanese launched a surprise attack on the American naval base a Pearl Harbour, Hawaii, killing 2,403.
1982 Charles Brooks Jr became the first person to be executed by lethal injection, with a huge dose of 'truth serum'
