Vincent van Gogh was a Dutch Post-Impressionist painter born on this day in 1853. He is known as one of the most famous and influential figures in the history of Western art.

Did you know that:

• Hyman L. Lipman patented a pencil with an attached eraser on this day in 1858
• Bell Telephone Laboratories announced the invention of the phototransistor on this day in 1950
• Robbie Coltrane is a Scottish actor and comedian born on this day in 1950