In 1959, an agreement was signed by Britain, Turkey and Greece granting Cyprus its independence. The agreement came after 4 years of guerrilla war against British rule.

Above: The first President of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios.

Born in 1952 – Maurice Lucas, American basketball player and coach.

Previously: Nikos Kazantzakis

American novelist Charles Portis died today.

“You must pay for everything in this world one way and another. There is nothing free except the Grace of God. You cannot earn that or deserve it.”

–Mattie Ross in Portis’ 1968 novel, True Grit.

Born in 1954 – Matt Groening, American cartoonist.

Above: Comic from Groening’s 1987 book, School is Hell.

Born in 1932 – Harriet Andersson, Swedish actress.

Above: Andersson (with Lars Ekborg) in Ingmar Bergman’s 1953 film Summer With Monika.

Born in 1857 – Eugène Atget, French photographer.

Versailles, France, 1923

See also: Le Perreux – Tour de Marne

And: Lev Shestov and Abraham Lincoln

Born in 1890 – Boris Pasternak, Russian poet and novelist.

“Art has two constant, two unending concerns: It always meditates on death and thus always creates life. All great, genuine art resembles and continues the Revelation of St John.”

Born in 1932 – Gerhard Richter, German painter and photographer.

Also, Alice Walker.

Born in 1819 – John Ruskin, English author, critic, and academic.

“The best work never was and never will be done for money.”

“People are eternally divided into two classes, the believer, builder, and praiser…and the unbeliever, destroyer and critic.”

Born in 1914 – William S. Burroughs, American author and painter.

“We must all face the fact that our leaders are certifiably insane, or worse.”