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Nicholas Breakspear

The only English-born Pope, Adrian IV, born Nicholas Breakspear, died 850 years ago this week. He’s our hero of the week not for any religious reason, but for his achievement in actually getting the top job - the previous six popes had all been Italian by birth, non-Italian popes then as until recently very rare beasts. He was of humble birth too, in contrast to most pontiffs. He rose rapidly in the church hierarchy on merit rather than as was more usual through nepotism. And though he lived outside England most of his life his death has something rather English about it – supposedly choking while drinking a glass of wine.

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Brit Quote:
Every time you liberate a woman, you liberate a man - Emmeline Pankhurst
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On this day:
Execution of Catherine Howard - 1542, William and Mary proclaimed joint sovereigns - 1689, Massacre of Glencoe - 1692, Suffragettes Storm Westminster - 1907
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