On 14 July 1820 John Gibson Lockhart, the Scottish biographer, was born.

Lockhart's first venture into the world of literature was as co-editor of Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine which he transformed into one of the leading periodicals of its day. Son-in-law of the novelist, Sir Walter Scott, he himself was also a noted novelist, writing, among other works, a depiction of the temptation of a rural minister, Adam Blair. However, he is best known as a biographer, particularly of his father-in-law, Walter Scott, although he also wrote noted biographies of Burns and Napoleon.

On 14th July 1648 Cavalry units from the Scottish Engager army clashed with Lambert's Parliamentarian cavalry at Penrith.

The Engager forces were commanded by the Duke of Hamilton, who made several mistakes in planning and executing his advance south, and quickly made themselves unpopular with the local population for their plundering and excesses.

Today's recipe: this courgette and parmesan omelette is a seasonal lunch time treat for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike.