1 February It Happened Today

1650  Death of the French philosopher Rene Descartes.

1901  Birth of the American actor Clark Gable.

1942  Vidkun Quisling made Norwegian prime minister in a German “puppet” government.

1966  Death of the silent film actor Buster Keaton.

1977  The Pompidou Centre opens in Paris.

2003  The US space shuttle Columbia breaks up while re-entering the earth’s atmosphere.