It happened on May 9:

1671: Irish adventurer Captain Thomas Blood made an unsuccessful attempt to steal the Crown Jewels from the Tower Of London.

1800: John Brown, US abolitionist, was born.

1860: JM Barrie, Scottish playwright and author of Peter Pan, was born inKirriemuir, Angus.

1955: West Germany joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato).

1946: Victor Emmanuel III, King of Italy, abdicated.

1971: Elizabeth Bonner ran the female world record marathon in a time of 3:01:42.

1978: The body of former Italian prime minister Aldo Moro was found in the boot of a car in central Rome, a victim of the Red Brigade.

1988: Australia’s new parliament house was opened by the Queen in Canberra.

1994: Mass murderer Joel Rifkind was found guilty in New York City.

2012: United States President Barack Obama officially stated his support for same-sex marriage.

ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: Tim Farron took to a hovercraft as he launched the Liberal Democrats’ General Election push in the South West.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS: Alan Bennett, playwright and author, 84; Albert Finney, actor, 82; Glenda Jackson, actress turned politician, 82; James L Brooks, writer, producer and director, 78; Candice Bergen, actress, 72; Billy Joel, singer, 69; John Corbett, actor, 57; Dave Gahan, singer (Depeche Mode), 56; Neil Ruddock, former footballer, 50.