Laurence of Canterbury was the second Archbishop of Canterbury. He was a member of the Gregorian mission sent from Italy to England to convert the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity, although the date of his arrival is disputed. He was consecrated archbishop by his predecessor, Augustine of Canterbury, in order to ensure continuity in the office. He attempted unsuccessfully to resolve differences with the native British bishops by corresponding with them about points of dispute. Laurence faced a crisis following the death of King Æthelberht of Kent, as the king's son and successor, Eadbald, had not embraced Christianity; he eventually converted. Laurence was revered as a saint after his death in 619.
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_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1170:
Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Becket was slain in his own cathedral by four knights of Henry II of England. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Becket
1891:
Physical education teacher James Naismith introduced a game in Springfield, Massachusetts, US, with thirteen rules and nine players on each team that he called "Basket Ball". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_basketball
1959:
Physicist Richard Feynman gave a speech entitled "There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom", which is considered the birth of nanotechnology. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/There%27s_Plenty_of_Room_at_the_Bottom
1992:
President of Brazil Fernando Collor de Mello resigned in an attempt to stop his impeachment proceedings from continuing, but the Senate of Brazil continued anyway, finding him guilty. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fernando_Collor_de_Mello
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
impetuous (adj): 1. Making arbitrary decisions, especially in an impulsive and forceful manner. 2. Characterized by sudden and violent force http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/impetuous
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
If your daily life seems poor, do not blame it; blame yourself, tell yourself that you are not poet enough to call forth its riches. --Rainer Maria Rilke http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Rainer_Maria_Rilke