Katherine Mary Drexel was born this day  in Philadelphia to Hannah Drexel and her husband Francis Drexel, the wealthy international financier. Her mother died within weeks of her birth and she was raised by her step-mother Emma Drexel in a family dedicated to active philanthropy amongst the poor of the city. She herself went on to a remarkable life of Catholic service, especially in the areas of Native American and African American education. She was canonized in 2000 by Pope John Paul II. (By John Osborne)

The Great Bell, which would be hauled up to the clock-tower at Westminster and become known as "Big Ben," was struck for the first time at the Whitechapel works where it had been recast. It would be mounted and ring out over London for the first time on May 31, 1859. (By John Osborne)

Sir Moses Montefiore, leader of Britain's Jewish community, travelled to Rome to attempt the return of a Jewish child Catholic authorities had removed from his parents to raise as a Catholic. Six year old Edgardo Mortana, who a Catholic servant girl had baptized when he was near death from illness, had been removed under the papal law that no baptized Catholic could be raised as a Jew. The French Government had intervened earlier with Pope Pius IX and failed; Montefiore's efforts also had no effect. Mortana was eventually ordained a priest. (By John Osborne)

Edgardo Mortana, a Jewish six year old who a Catholic servant girl had baptized when he was near death from illness, is removed from his family in Bologna by police to be raised as a Catholic. Bologna was then under the direct rule of the Pope and the law was clear that no baptized Catholic could be raised as a Jew. All family efforts to retrieve the child will be futile despite powerful international outcry and Mortana was eventually ordained a priest. (By John Osborne)

Alderman David Salomons became the first person of his faith elected to the post of Lord Mayor of London. Ever since his first efforts at election in the City he had faced difficulties because of the Christian oaths required. He met further such obstacles when he was elected to Parliament in 1851. He also became the first Jewish magistrate in Britain. (By John Osborne)