On This Day In History
13 August 2012. American born journalist, Helen Gurley Brown, died (aged 90). She was the editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan magazine for 32 years. She was an advocate of women’s sexual freedom and sought to provide women with role models in her magazine. pic.twitter.com/UcbktnhJbw
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) August 13, 2022
13 August 2016. Film star, Kenny Baker, died (aged 81). He’s best remembered for portraying the character, R2-D2, in the Star Wars science fiction movie series. He also appeared in The Elephant Man, Time Bandits, Willow, Flash Gordon, Amadeus and Labyrinth. pic.twitter.com/SfYFr45nUf
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) August 13, 2022
PHOTO OF THE DAY. Elvis Presley having the new Polio vaccine to encourage young people to take it (1956). pic.twitter.com/LXvptARn6Y
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) August 13, 2022
August 14th
1281 During Kublai Khan's second Mongol invasion of Japan his invading Chinese fleet of 3,500 vessels disappears in a typhoon near Japan
1842 Second Seminole War declared over by US Army Colonel Worth, after nearly 7 years; more than 3000 Seminole Nation survivors re-located from Florida to Oklahoma, only about 300 allowed to remain [1]
1945 V-J Day, Japan surrenders unconditionally to end WW II (also August 15 depending on time zone)
1947 Pakistan gains independence from Great Britain
1969 British Army deploys on the streets of Northern Ireland, marking the beginning of Operation Banner
1980 17,000 workers go on strike at the Lenin Shipyard in Gdańsk, Poland, marking the beginning of the Solidarity movement
Did You Know?
King Duncan I of Scotland killed in battle against his first cousin and rival Macbeth (not murdered in his sleep as in Shakespeare's play). The latter does succeed him as King.
Today in History in 1040
Would You Believe?
The first claimed powered flight, by Gustave Whitehead in his Number 21.
Today in History in 1901
This day 61 years ago - 14 August 1958 - KLM flight 607-E crashed 110 miles northwest of Shannon Airport.
All 99 people on board died. 34 bodies were recovered.
The remains of those unidentified were interred at New Cemetery, Bohermore, the largest funeral Galway city had seen. pic.twitter.com/WHdUGBuYRe
— This Day in Irish History (@ThisDayIrish) August 14, 2019
In the 4th century CE, Chinese poet Su Hui wrote a complex palindrome poem—a form she invented. Ming scholars found 7,940 ways to read it. A 29x29 character grid, the poem can be read forwards, backwards, horizontally, vertically, diagonally, & by colours. https://t.co/JIBXkHFmqb pic.twitter.com/4KpPNVQfyx
— On This Day She (@OnThisDayShe) August 14, 2022
On this day in 1908, a white mob tried to lynch two Black men in Springfield, Illinois. When the mob heard they were taken to another jail, a violent riot broke out. To overcome racial inequality, we must confront our history. https://t.co/3BR9ysmyqh
— Equal Justice Initiative (@eji_org) August 14, 2022
14 August 1888. A press conference was held in London to introduce Thomas Edison’s phonograph. In its later forms, it was also called a gramophone and since the 1940s a record player. pic.twitter.com/YjJJI5ARQw
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) August 14, 2022
14 August 1935. US President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, signed the landmark Social Security Act which created unemployment insurance and old age pensions. pic.twitter.com/xIh1PrBLud
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) August 14, 2022
14 August 1947. Pakistan was declared an independent sovereign state, following the end of the British Raj. Pakistan had come into existence as a result of the campaign of the Pakistan Movement, led by the All-India Muslim League, under the leadership of Muhammad Ali Jinnah. pic.twitter.com/2Gw288nBB9
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) August 14, 2022
14 August 1956. German poet & playwright, Bertolt Brecht, died (aged 58). He rose to fame during the Weimar Republic, most notably, with The Threepenny Opera. He went into exile during the Nazi era and later wrote the anti Nazi satire, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui. pic.twitter.com/vmDKHBbuAc
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) August 14, 2022
14 August 1984. John Boynton (“J. B.”) Priestley died (aged 89). His Yorkshire roots were reflected in much of his writing, most notably, in his first successful novel, The Good Companions. He’s also credited with strengthening public morale during the Battle of Britain in 1940. pic.twitter.com/btqvzRhTQf
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) August 14, 2022
14 August 2015. The United States Embassy in Havana, Cuba, re-opened after 54 years, after being closed after Cuba–US relations were broken off in 1961. pic.twitter.com/0hslPeLA1l
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) August 14, 2022
August 15th
1461 Empire of Trebizond surrenders to forces of Sultan Mehmet II - last Byzantine Empire remnant to fall. Emperor David exiled and later murdered.
1620 Mayflower sets sail from Southampton, England, with 102 Pilgrims
1900 The Boxer Rebellion: In China, the Empress, her family and court retainers flee while foreign troops move through Peking in an attempt to quell the rebellion
1947 India gains independence from Great Britain, remains a dominion until 1950
1998 Omagh Bombing in Northern Ireland, the worst terrorist incident of The Troubles, kills 29 people and injures about 220
2021 Afghan President Ashraf Ghani flees the country as Taliban forces enter the capital Kabul and take control
Did You Know?
1st recorded north American hurricane hits the Plymouth Colony
Today in History in 1635
Would You Believe?
North Korea creates its own time zone -moving its clocks back half an hour to GMT+8.5
Today in History in 2015
This day 420 years ago - 15 August 1599 - the Battle of Curlew Pass took place; Conyers Clifford, an English military commander appointed President of Connaught, was ambushed and killed by Hugh Roe O'Donnell.
It is commemorated with a bronze sculpture, 'The Gaelic Chieftain.' pic.twitter.com/kAKh7g4129
— This Day in Irish History (@ThisDayIrish) August 15, 2019
#OTD last year, the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan. We acknowledge the oppression imposed by them on the women of that nation, with striking poems from Afghani poet, Dr @ParwanaFayyaz. Read them here: https://t.co/HEKVEBnF7N pic.twitter.com/2YqN36VsYa
— On This Day She (@OnThisDayShe) August 15, 2022
On this day in 1963, 32 teenage protestors who had been arrested for challenging a Virginia school board's refusal to integrate schools were released from jail. To overcome racial inequality, we must confront our history. https://t.co/SUQB0Hmmax
— Equal Justice Initiative (@eji_org) August 15, 2022
15 August 1248. The foundation stone of Cologne Cathedral was laid. Construction was eventually completed in 1880. pic.twitter.com/hQ5W3jTvQm
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) August 15, 2022