St. Columba was born in Donegal, Ireland on this day in 521AD.

Also known as Colum-Cille, an aristocratically-born Columba was banished to Scotland, following battles over monastic possessions. In 563, with 12 companions, he established a monastery on Iona, possibly on the site of an existing church. Columba is credited with converting King Bridei , the leader of the Picts in Scotland, to Christianity. Columba died on Iona in 597 A.D, and his biography by Adamnan is a main source of information for the period and in describing the Christianisation of northern Scotland.

Today in 1545 saw the birth of Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley, the Anglo-Scottish aristocrat and second husband of Mary, Queen of Scots. Mary marrried Henry, her first cousin, on the 29 July 1565, to be the uncrowned "King Henry".

The marriage ceremony was a Roman Catholic one, although Darnley professed to be Protestant. After the ceremony, Darnley managed to alienate and antagonise the Scottish nobility, become estranged from his wife, and meet a violent death. Darnley was the second husband of Mary and father of King James VI of Scotland and James I of England.

He was assassinated in February 1567 by person unknown, although Mary's third husband James, Lord Bothwell, was seriously implicated in the murder.

Today's recipe: in-season satsumas make for an eye-catching dinner finale.