Todays the Day - 5th August

Edward John Eyre

• 200 years ago: British explorer Edward John Eyre was born at Whipsnade in Bedfordshire. In 1839, Eyre set out to explore the interior of Australia with 2 separate expeditions. He became Governor of Jamaica, being best remembered for crushing an uprising by using excessive force (however he was acquitted by a jury).

• 90 years ago: The Welsh Nationalist political party Plaid Cymru was founded. It now campaigns as a social-democratic party, advocating an independent Wales from the UK, within the European Union.

Frederick Cook

• 75 years ago: Controversial physician and explorer Frederick A Cook died of a cerebral haemorrhage. He claimed to be the first to reach the North Pole and conquer the summit of Mt McKinley although doubts remain to the authenticity of these claims. After a review of his limited records, it was decreed by the University of Copenhagen that he had not proven his reaching the Pole. His attempt on Mt McKinley in 1906 was considered dubious by other members of the team left lower on the mountain.