Thursday, November 16, 2023

November 16

Birthdays:

 

1977 ~ Maggie Gyllenhaal (née Margalit Ruth Gyllenhaal), American actress.  She was born in New York, New York.

 

1958 ~ Marg Helgenberger (née Mary Margaret Helgenberger), American actress.  She is best known for her role as Catherine Willows on the television drama, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.  She was born in Fremont, Nebraska.

 

1950 ~ David Leisure (né David Russell Leisure), American actor best known for his role as pitchman Joe Isuzu.  He was born in San Diego, California.

 

1930 ~ Chinua Achebe (né Albert Chinualumogu Achebe; d. Mar. 21, 2013), Nigerian novelist who gave post-colonial Africa a voice.  He is best known for his novel, Things Fall Apart.  He was born in Ogidi, Nigeria.  He died at age 82 in Boston, Massachusetts.

 

1924 ~ Louis Leithold (d. Apr. 29, 2005), American mathematician.  He is best known for his book The Calculus, which changed teaching methods of mathematics in high schools.  He was born in San Francisco, California.  He died at age 80 in Los Angeles, California.

 

1922 ~ José Saramago (né José de Sousa Saramago; d. June 18, 2010), Portuguese novelist and journalist.  He was the recipient of the 1998 Nobel Prize in Literature.  He was 87 years old.

 

1907 ~ Burgess Meredith (né Oliver Burgess Meredith; d. Sept. 9, 1997), American actor.  He is best known for his role as Mickey Goldmill in the Rocky movies.  He was born in Cleveland, Ohio.  He died at age 89 in Malibu, California.

 

1889 ~ George S. Kaufman (né George Simon Kaufman; d. June 2, 1961), American playwright.  He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  He died at age 71 in New York, New York.

 

1836 ~ King Kalākaua of Hawaii (d. Jan. 20, 1891).  He was born in Honolulu, Kingdom of Hawaii.  He died at age 54 in San Francisco, California.

 

1753 ~ James McHenry (d. May 3, 1816), Irish-American military surgeon.  He served as the 3rd United States Secretary of War.  He served under Presidents George Washington and John Adams.  He served as the Secretary of War from January 1796 through May 1800.  Ft. McHenry of Civil War fame was named in his honor.  He was born in Ballymena, Ireland.  He died at age 62 in Baltimore, Maryland.

 

1717 ~ Jean le Rond d’Alembert (d. Oct. 29, 1783), French mathematician.  He was born and died in Paris, France.  He died 18 days before his 66th birthday.

 

1566 ~ Anna Juliana Gonzaga (d. Aug. 3, 1621), Archduchess consort of Further Austria.  She was the second wife of Ferdinand II, Archduke of Further Austria (1529 ~ 1595).  They married in 1582 after the death of his first wife.  He was her uncle.  After her husband died, she entered a convent and became a Religious Sister of the Servite Order.  She was of the House of Gonzaga.  She was the daughter of Guglielmo Gongaza, Duke of Mantau and Archduchess Eleanor of Austria.  She was Roman Catholic.  She died at age 54.

 

1540 ~ Princess Cecilia of Sweden (d. Jan. 27, 1627), member of the Swedish royal family.  She was the  Margravine consort of Baden-Rodemachern through her marriage to Christopher II, Margrave of Baden-Rodemachern (1537 ~ 1575).  She was of the House of Vasa.  She was the daughter of Gustav I, King of Sweden and his second wife, Margareta Leijonhufvud.  She was born in Stockholm, Sweden.  She died at age 86 in Brussels, Belgium.

 

1528 ~ Jeanne III, Queen of Navarre (d. June 9, 1572).  She reigned from May 1555 until her death in 1572.  She was married twice.  Her first husband was William, Duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg (1516 ~ 1592).  They married in 1541.  The marriage was annulled 4 years later on grounds that she had been forced into the marriage and it had never been consummated.  In 1548, she married Antoine de Bourbon (1518 ~ 1562).  When she became Queen, Antoine became king jure uxoris.  They were the parents of Henry IV, King of France.  She was of the House of Albret.  She was the daughter of Henry II, King of Navarre and Margaret of Angoulême.  She converted from Roman Catholicism to Reformed Huguenot.  She died at age 43.

 

1457 ~ Princess Beatrice of Naples (d. Sept. 23, 1508), Queen consort of Hungary and Bohemia.  She was married twice.  She was married first to Matthias Corvinus (1443 ~ 1490) and then to Vladislaus II (1456 ~ 1516), both of whom were kings of Hungary and Bohemia.  In 1490, she and Vladislaus married while he was still married to his first wife.  In 1500, Pope Alexander VI declared her marriage illegal and dissolved the marriage of the King’s first marriage as well.  She was of the House of Trastámara.  She was the daughter of Ferdinand I, King of Naples and Isabella of Clermont.  She was born and died in Naples.  She died at age 50.

 

42 BCE ~ Tiberius Claudius Nero Caesar (d. Mar. 16, 37 CE), Roman Emperor.  He is believed to have been 77 at the time of his death.

 

Events that Changed the World:

 

2010 ~ Prince William of the United Kingdom (b. 1982) and Kate Middleton (b. 1982) announced their engagement.

 

1988 ~ In an open election, the people of Pakistan elected Benazir Bhutto (1953 ~ 2007) to be Prime Minister.  Bhutto served two terms, the first from December 1988 through August 1990 and the second from October 1993 through December 1996.

 

1973 ~ President Richard Nixon (1913 ~ 1994) signed the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act into law, thereby authorizing the construction of the Alaska Pipeline.

 

1973 ~ NASA launched Skylab 4 with a crew of 3 astronauts for an 84-day mission.

 

1945 ~ The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was founded.

 

1940 ~ George Metesky (1903 ~ 1994), known as the Mad Bomber of New York City, placed his first bomb in the Manhattan Office building used by Consolidated Edison.  He terrorized New York City for the next 16 years, planting at least 33 bombs, 22 of which exploded.  Over 15 people were killed from his bombings.

 

1940 ~ The British Royal Air Force bombed Hamburg, Germany in retaliation of the Nazi bombing of Coventry, England a few days earlier.

 

1940 ~ The Nazis closed off the Warsaw Ghetto during the Holocaust.

 

1938 ~ Swiss chemist Dr. Albert Hofmann (1906 ~ 2008), first synthesized lysergic acid diethylamide, better known as LSD.

 

1920 ~ Qantas, the national airline of Australia, was founded.  Its name comes from its initial name of Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services, Ltd.

 

1914 ~ The Federal Reserve Bank of the United States officially opened.

 

1907 ~ Oklahoma became the 46th State of the Union.

 

1904 ~ Sir John Ambrose Fleming, (1849 ~ 1945) a British engineer, received a patent of the vacuum tube.

 

1871 ~ The National Rifle Association was granted a charter by New York State.

 

1855 ~ David Livingstone (1813 ~ 1873) became the 1st European to see Victoria Falls in what is now the Republic of Zambia.  He is the first recorded European to visit the Falls.

 

1849 ~ Russian novelist, Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821 ~ 1881) was sentenced to death for his anti-government activities that were linked to a radical intellectual group.  His sentence was later commuted to hard labor.

 

1532 ~ Francisco Pizarro (1470s ~ 1541) and his men captured Inca Emperor Atahualpa during the Battle of Cajamarca.

 

1491 ~ An auto-da-fé, which was held outside of Ávila, Spain, ended with the public execution of several Jews and converse suspects.  They had been accused of murdering a Christian child.  Tomás de Torquemada (1420 ~ 1498) conducted the investigation and even though there was not supporting evidence, the Jews were found guilty.

 

1272 ~ England’s Prince Edward (1239 ~ 1307) began his reign as Edward I, King of England following the death of Henry III, King of England (1207 ~ 1272).  Because he was traveling during the Ninth Crusade, he did not actually assume the throne for two years, when he finally returned to England.

 

534 ~ The final revision of the Codex Justinianus is believed to have been published.

 

Good-Byes:

 

2022 ~ Carol Leigh (b. Jan. 11, 1951), American activist who invented the term “sex work”.  She was a former prostitute and was known as the Scarlot Harlot, due to her curly red hair.  She changed the language of prostitution from being viewed as a crime, to being a labor issue.  She was born in New York, New York.  She died of cancer at age 71 in San Francisco, California.

 

2022 ~ Robert Clary (né Robert Max Widerman; b. Mar. 1, 1926), French actor.  He is best known for his role as Corporal Louis LeBeau on the television sit-com Hogan’s Heroes.  During World War II, he had been deported to a concentration camp in Poland.  He was later sent to Buchenwald.  He was born in Paris, France.  He died in Los Angeles, California at age 96.

 

2020 ~ Guadalupe Lopez (b. Sept. 20, 1962), American 911 dispatcher in Chicago.  He worked as a dispatcher for over 33 years and was beloved by many in the police department for his cool and calm way in guiding officers as they responded to homicides, shootings, carjackings and other emergencies.  He died of Covid-19 at age 58.  Sadly, his wife, Marie, died of cancer just five days after his death.

 

2019 ~ Terry O’Neill (né Terence Patrick O’Neill; b. July 30, 1938), British photographer who captured the swinging ’60.  His 2nd wife was Faye Dunaway.  He was born and died in London, England.  He died of cancer at age 81 in London, England.

 

2018 ~ Jane Maas (née Jane Anne Brown; b. Mar. 14, 1932), American adwoman who blazed a trail in the MadMen era.  She is best known for heading the “I Love New York” campaign.  She was born in Jersey City, New Jersey.  She died at age 86 in Charleston, South Carolina.

 

2018 ~ William Goldman (b. Aug. 12, 1931), American author, playwright and screenwriter who had the best lines.  He is best known for his comedy-fantasy novel, The Princess Bride, which was also adapted to film.  He was born in Highland Park, Illinois.  He died from complications of colon cancer at age 87 in Manhattan, New York.

 

2018 ~ Olivia Hooker (née Olivia Juliette Hooker; b. Feb. 12, 1915), African-American psychologist.  She was the last known race riot survivor of the Tulsa race riots in 1921, and bore witness.  She was also the first African-American woman to be admitted into the United States Coast Guard.  She was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma.  She died at age 103 in White Plains, New York.

 

2017 ~ Dr. Ferdie Pacheco (né Ferando Pacheco, b. Dec. 8, 1927), American physician who stood in Muhammad Ali’s corner.  He was known as The Fight Doctor.  He was born in Tampa, Florida.  He died 22 days before his 90th birthday in Miami, Florida.

 

2016 ~ Melvin Laird (né Melvin Robert Laird, Jr.; b. Sept. 1, 1922), American politician.  He served as the 10th United States Secretary of Defense under the Nixon Administration.  He held that Office from January 1969 through January 1973.  He had previously served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Wisconsin.  He was born in Omaha, Nebraska.  He died at age 94 in Fort Myers, Florida.

 

2015 ~ Michael C. Gross (b. Oct. 3, 1945), American designer and graphic artist who created the Ghostbusters logo.  He was born in Newburgh, New York.  He died at age 70 in Oceanside, California.

 

2013 ~ Oscar Lanford (né Oscar Eramus Lanford, III; b. Jan. 6, 1940), American mathematician.  He was born in New York, New York.  He died at age 73.

 

2011 ~ René A. Morel (b. Mar. 11, 1932), French-born American master restorer of rare violins.  He died of cancer at age 79 in Wayne, New Jersey.

 

2010 ~ Ronni Chasen (née Veronica Cohen; b. Oct. 17, 1946), American movie publicist who was mysteriously murdered.  Police ultimately concluded she was murdered during a random robbery.  She was born in Kingston, New York.  She died a month after her 64th birthday in Beverly Hills, California.

 

2009 ~ Edward Woodward (né Edward Albert Arthur Woodwood; b. June 1, 1930), the suave English actor who was television’s The Equalizer.  He died at age 79.

 

2009 ~ Jan Leighton (né Milton Lichtman; b. Dec. 27, 1921), American actor who turned historical figures into pitchman.  He was born in The Bronx, New York.  He died at age 87 in Manhattan, New York.

 

2007 ~ Gene H. Golub (né Gene Howard Golub; b. Feb. 29, 1932), American mathematician and computer scientist.  He was born in Chicago, Illinois.  He died of leukemia at age 75 in Stanford, California.

 

2006 ~ Milton Friedman (b. July 31, 1912), American economist and recipient of the 1976 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences.  He was born in Brooklyn, New York.  He died at age 94 in San Francisco, California.

 

2005 ~ Henry Taube (b. Nov. 30, 1915), Canadian-born American chemist and recipient of the 1983 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.  He was born in Neudorf, Saskatchewan, Canada.  He died 14 days before his 90th birthday in Palo Alto, California.

 

2005 ~ Ralph Edwards (né Ralph Livingstone Edwards; b. June 13, 1913), American radio and television host.  He was born in Merino, Colorado.  He died at age 92 in Los Angeles, California.

 

1999 ~ Daniel Nathans (b. Oct. 30, 1928), American microbiologist and recipient of the 1978 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discovery of restriction enzymes.  He was born in Wilmington, Delaware.  He died 17 days after his 71st birthday in Baltimore, Maryland.

 

1982 ~ Pavel Alexandrov (b. May 7, 1896), Russian mathematician.  He made important contributions to set theory and topology.  He died at age 86 in Moscow, Soviet Union.

 

1977 ~ Princess Charlotte, Duchess of Valentinois (b. Sept. 30, 1898).  She was the Hereditary Princess of Monaco.  In 1920, she married Count Pierre de Polignac.  They divorced 13 years later.  She was of the House of Grimaldi.  She was the illegitimate daughter of Louis II, Prince of Monaco and his mistress, Marie Juliette Louvet.  She was the mother of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco.  She renounced her right to the throne upon her son’s 21st birthday.  She was born in Constantine, French Algeria.  She died at age 77 in Paris, France.

 

1973 ~ Alan Watts (né Alan Wilson Watts; b. Jan. 6, 1915), British-American philosopher.  He is best known for popularizing Eastern philosophy to Western audiences.  He died at age 58 in Mount Tamalpais, California.

 

1971 ~ Edie Sedgwick (née Edith Minturn Sedgwick; b. Apr. 20, 1940), American socialite and heiress.  She was born and died in Santa Barbara, California.  She died of a drug overdose at age 28.

 

1961 ~ Sam Rayburn (né Samuel Taliaferro Rayburn; b. Jan. 6, 1882), American politician from Texas.  He was the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from January 1955 until his death in November 1961.  He was influential in the construction of U.S. Route 66.  He was born in Kingston, Tennessee.  He died of cancer at age 79 in Bonham, Texas.

 

1960 ~ Clark Gable (né William Clark Gable; b. Feb. 1, 1901), American actor best known for his role as Rhett Butler in Gone with the Wind.  He was born in Cadiz, Ohio.  He died at age 59 of coronary thrombosis in Los Angeles, California.

 

1950 ~ Bob Smith (né Robert Holbrook Smith; b. Aug. 8, 1879), American physician and co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous.  He was born in St. Johnsbury, Vermont.  He died at age 71 in Akron, Ohio.

 

1939 ~ Pierce Butler (b. Mar. 17, 1866), Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court.  He was nominated to the High Court by President Warren Harding.  He replaced William Day on the Court.  He was succeeded by Frank Murphy. He served on the Court from December 1922 until his death in November 1939.  He was born in Dakota County, Minnesota.  He died at age 73 in Washington, D.C.

 

1934 ~ Alice Liddell (née Alice Pleasance Liddell; b. May 4, 1852), English woman.  As a young child, she was acquainted with author Lewis Carroll.  She was a frequent model for his photography.  Alice in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll, was named for her.  She died at age 82.

 

1806 ~ Moses Cleaveland (b. Jan. 29, 1754), American general and politician who founded Cleveland, Ohio.  He was born and died in Canterbury, Connecticut.  He died at age 52.

 

1797 ~ Frederick William II, King of Prussia (b. Sept. 25, 1744).  He ruled over Prussia from August 1786 until his death in November 1797.  He was married several times.  In 1765, he married Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Lüneburg, Crown Princess of Prussia.  They divorced in 1769.  His second wife was Frederica Louise of Hesse-Darmstadt.  His next two marriages were morganastic and bigamist, as he never divorced his second wife.  His third wife was Julie von Voß.  After her death, he married Sophie von Dönhoff.  They separated after 2 years of marriage.  He was of the House of Hohenzollern.  He was the son of Prince Augustus William of Prussia and Duchess Luise of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel.  He was the father of Frederick William III, King of Prussia, who succeeded him to the throne.  He was a Calvinist.  He died at age 53.

 

1632 ~ Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden (b. Dec. 19, 1594).  He reigned as King of Sweden from October 1611 until his death 21 years later.  He was married to Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg.  He was of the House of Vasa.  He was the son of Charles IX, King of Sweden and Christina of Holstein-Gottorp.  He was the father of Christina, Queen of Sweden, who succeeded him to the throne.  He was Lutheran.  He was killed in the Battle of Lützen about a month before his 38thbirthday.  Under the calendar in effect at the time, his birthday is sometimes listed as occurring on December 9 and his death on November 6.

 

1508 ~ Marie of Baden-Sponheim (b. June 25, 1507), Duchess consort of Bavaria.  She was married to William VI, Duke of Bavaria.  They married in 1522.  She was of the House of Zähringen.  She was the daughter of Philip I, Margrave of Baden and Elisabeth of the Palatinate.  She died at age 73.

 

1272 ~ Henry III, King of England (b. Oct. 1, 1207).  He reigned as King of England from October 1216 until his death in November 1272.  He was married to Eleanor of Provence (1223 ~ 1291).  They married in 1236.  They were the parents of Edward I, King of England.  He was of the House of Plantagent.  He was the son of John, King of England and Isabella, Countess of Angoulême.  He died at age 65.

 

1264 ~ Lizong (b. Jan. 26, 1205), 14th Chinese Emperor of the Song Dynasty and 5th Emperor of the Southern Song Dynasty.  He reigned from September 1224 until his death 40 years later.  He died at age 59.

 

1093 ~ Saint Margaret of Scotland (b. 1045), Queen consort of Scotland.  She was the wife of Malcolm III, King of Scotland.  She was also known as Margaret of Wessex.  She was of the House of Wessex.  She was the daughter of Edward the Exile and Agatha.  She was the mother of Alexander I, King of Scotland and David I, King of Scotland, as well as Matilda, Queen consort of England.  The exact date of her birth is not known.


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