Mark Mason

On this day: what was the Statue of Liberty’s original purpose?

  • From Spectator Life
Image: Getty

Every weekend Spectator Life brings you doses of topical trivia – facts, figures and anecdotes inspired by the current week’s dates in history …

13 February

Peter Gabriel (born 1950). The ex-Genesis singer called each of his first four solo albums ‘Peter Gabriel’.

14 February

James Bond (died 1989). The ornithologist wrote the book Birds of the West Indies, a copy of which was owned by Ian Fleming, who stole the name for his most famous character: ‘I wanted the simplest, dullest, plainest-sounding name I could find, and “James Bond” was much better than something more interesting, like “Peregrine Carruthers”.’

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Daniel Craig in Skyfall (Shutterstock)

15 February

Clare Short (born 1946). The politician’s mobile phone, which she had forgotten to turn off, once rang during a meeting of the Privy Council. Short hurriedly scrambled to silence it. The Queen asked: ‘Anyone important?’

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Clare Short gives evidence at the Iraq inquiry (Getty)

16 February

In 1742 Spencer Compton, the Earl of Wilmington became Prime Minister.

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