On This Day In History
This day 106 years ago - 20 September 1914 - John Redmond spoke in Woodenbridge, Co Wicklow.
He encouraged Irish Volunteers to fight in the First World War, and demonstrate the “courage which has distinguished our race all through its history.”
The Volunteers split as a result. pic.twitter.com/jvBbHjz30q
— This Day in Irish History (@ThisDayIrish) September 20, 2020
This day 101 years ago – 20 September 1920 – RIC Head Constable Peter Burke was shot dead in Balbriggan, Co Dublin.
In retaliation, nine houses, four pubs and a factory which employed 200 people were burned down.
Two IRA men – James Lawless and John Gibbons – were also killed. pic.twitter.com/2zb7CuIV7a
— This Day in Irish History (@ThisDayIrish) September 20, 2021
#OTD in 1919, botanist & geneticist Jantina Tammes was appointed Professor of Genetics at the Univ of Groningen, the first genetics prof in the Netherlands. She was also active in the Dutch Assoc of Women In Higher Education and as an opponent of eugenics. https://t.co/ftaxRTGpdf pic.twitter.com/4OTydCwUWD
— On This Day She (@OnThisDayShe) September 20, 2022
On this day in 2007, 15,000 protesters came to Jena, Louisiana, to show solidarity with 6 local Black high school students facing unfairly harsh criminal charges. To overcome racial inequality, we must confront our history. https://t.co/9UDs8NBTni
— Equal Justice Initiative (@eji_org) September 20, 2022
20 September 1933. Socialist campaigner, Annie Besant, died (aged 85). She fought for many causes including freedom of thought, women’s rights, secularism, birth control, socialism, workers’ rights and Indian independence. She was the author of over 300 books and pamphlets. pic.twitter.com/ZkGkV3UoXg
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) September 20, 2022
20 September 1946. The first Cannes Film Festival began, and ran until 5 October 1946. Twenty-one countries presented their films during the festival which took place at the former Casino of Cannes. Most of the films shown were on themes related to the Second World War. pic.twitter.com/JJjqC3NVif
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) September 20, 2022
20 September 1963. US President, John F. Kennedy, proposed a joint US-Soviet expedition to the Moon. The Soviet Union showed no enthusiasm for the idea. pic.twitter.com/GcMO6w6j7e
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) September 20, 2022
20 September 1973. Tennis legend, Billy Jean King, defeated the former US Men’s Open champion, Bobby Riggs, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 in what was billed as the “Battle-of-Sexes” Tennis match in Houston, Texas. Riggs had confidently predicted that he would win easily beforehand. pic.twitter.com/JFcjzmHWQ6
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) September 20, 2022
20 September 2004. The legendary Nottingham Forest and Derby County manager, Brian Clough, died (aged 69). He was one of the greatest managers of all time. His greatest achievements were a league title with Derby and a league title and 2 European Cups with Nottingham Forest. pic.twitter.com/kVveiCAOYP
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) September 20, 2022
20 September 2005. Simon Wiesenthal died (aged 96). He was a Holocaust survivor and dedicated his life to tracking down Nazi war criminals. In 1947, he co-founded the Jewish Historical Documentation Centre in Linz, Austria, to gather evidence for future war crime trials. pic.twitter.com/IUyDOHd9Dt
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) September 20, 2022
20 September 2011. The United States military ended its “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy, thereby allowing gay men and women to serve openly in the armed forces for the first time. pic.twitter.com/NvMq6vQvYQ
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) September 20, 2022
September 21st
1621 King James I of England gives Sir William Alexander a royal charter for colonisation of Nova Scotia
1792 French Revolution: The National Convention passes a proclamation announcing the formal abolition of the French monarchy
1898 Empress Dowager Cixi seizes power and ends the Hundred Days' Reform in China, imprisoning the Guangxu Emperor
1915 Cecil Chubb buys English prehistoric monument Stonehenge for £6,600
1922 US President Warren G. Harding signs a joint resolution of approval to establish a Jewish homeland in Palestine
1936 Spanish fascist junta names Francisco Franco to Generalissimo and Supreme Commander
1949 Chinese Communist leaders proclaim the People's Republic of China
Did You Know?
Three genetic studies published in "Nature" conclude all non-Africans descended from one migration out of Africa 50-80,000 years ago
Today in History in 2016
Would You Believe?
Genomic study finding Australian Aboriginal oldest known civilisation on earth published in "Nature"
Today in History in 2016
This day 71 years ago - 21 September 1949 - the Republic of Ireland football team became the first foreign side to defeat England on home soil, beating them 2-0.
In an international friendly at Goodison Park, Liverpool, Con Martin scored a penalty, and Peter Farrell a late goal. pic.twitter.com/mw940ivCTm
— This Day in Irish History (@ThisDayIrish) September 21, 2020
In 1964, Swedish actress Mai Zetterling's first feature film Älskande par ("Loving Couples")—based on Agnes von Krusenstjerna's novels—was banned at the Cannes Film Festival for its sexual explicitness & nudity. Her later work explored feminist themes. https://t.co/iL4WFU7u8f pic.twitter.com/XxGv8QdnzA
— On This Day She (@OnThisDayShe) September 21, 2022
On this day in 2011, Georgia executed Troy Davis despite new evidence of his innocence. The evidence was so compelling that three of his jurors urged the government to stop the execution. To overcome racial inequality, we must confront our history. https://t.co/LD5KMEJClp
— Equal Justice Initiative (@eji_org) September 21, 2022
Ouch!
21 September 1327. Deposed English king, Edward II, died (aged 43). It’s thought he was murdered at Berkeley Castle, with some accounts claiming the insertion of a red-hot poker into his anus. This is no longer accepted, and it’s even been suggested he lived until 1330 at least. pic.twitter.com/bLBMkhDNgs
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) September 21, 2022
Unless they’re talking about the flower.
21 September 1756. John McAdam was born in Ayr, Scotland. He invented macadamised (tarmac) roads. This construction method, viewed as the greatest advance in road building since Roman times, became known as “macadamisation”. pic.twitter.com/pYSvBTaaqx
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) September 21, 2022
21 September 1938. The “Great New England Hurricane of 1938” hit Long Island in New York State. It’s estimated it killed 682 people, damaged or destroyed 57,000 homes, and caused property losses estimated at $306 million ($4.8billion today). pic.twitter.com/KurfZPpYJv
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) September 21, 2022
21 September 1964. Malta attained independence from the British Empire and joined the Commonwealth of Nations, but declared itself a republic a decade later. pic.twitter.com/8r7BhIHKtj
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) September 21, 2022