#otdih

Titanic left her home for the very last time. She was headed for New York

The Marquis de La Fayette in a letter to his wife Adrienne, September 4, 1799.

Marquis de La Fayette, Mémoires, correspondance et manuscrits du général Lafayette, Vol. 8, Brockhaus & Avenariew, Leipzig, 1837, p. 250. My Translation.

Wishing a happy birthday to Robert W. Chambers.

Born on this day, May 26, 1865.

So long, and thanks for all the fin de siècle.

On this day in history, January 23, 1806, William Pitt the Younger, Prime Minister of Great Britain died aged 46 at Bowling Green House on Putney Heath.

At three o’clock on Wednesday Colonel Taylor arrived express from His Majesty at Windsor, and returned with the melancholy [news] of all hopes having ceased. I remained the whole of Wednesday night with Mr. Pitt. His mind seemed fixed on the affairs of the country, and he expressed his thoughts aloud, though sometimes incoherently. He spoke a good deal concerning a private letter from Lord Harrowby, and frequently inquired the direction of the wind; then said, answering himself, “East; ah! that will do; that will bring him quick:” at other times seemed to be in conversation with a messenger, and sometimes cried out “Hear, hear” as if in the House of Commons. During the time he did not speak he moaned considerably, crying, “O dear! O Lord!” Towards twelve the rattles came in his throat, and proclaimed approaching dissolution.

(…) at about half past two Mr. Pitt ceased moaning, and did not speak or make the slightest sound for some time, as his extremities were then growing chilly. I feared he was dying; but shortly afterwards, with a much clearer voice than he spoke in before, and in a tone I never shall forget, he exclaimed, “Oh, my country! how I love my country!” From that time he never spoke or moved, and at half-past four expired without a groan or struggle. His strength being quite exhausted his life departed like a candle burning out.

مجزرة دير ياسين، 9 نيسان/ أبريل 1948

April 3rd, 1882: Charles Ponzi, of the widespread Ponzi schemes, is born.

January 10

[49 BC] Julius Caesar defies the Roman Senate and crosses the Rubicon, signaling the start of civil war which would lead to his appointment as Roman dictator for life.

[1475] Stephen III of Moldavia defeats the Ottoman Empire at the Battle of Vaslui.

[1642] King Charles I and his family flee from London for Hampton Court fearing for their lives, not to return for 7 years.

[1663] King Charles II affirms a new charter for the Royal African Company, granting it a monopoly over trade along the west coast of Africa.

[1810] French church annuls marriage of Napoleon I and Empress Joséphine.

[1861] Florida seceded from the Union and in February 1861 joined the Confederacy.

[1920] Inauguration of the League of Nations.

[1932] "Mickey Mouse" & "Silly Symphony" comics syndicated.

[1946] The first General Assembly of the United Nations, comprising of 51 nations, convenes at Westminster Central Hall in London, England.

[1957] Poet T.S. Eliot (68) weds his 2nd wife editor Esmé Valerie Fletcher (30).

[1958] Jerry Lee Lewis "Great Balls of Fire" reaches #1 on UK pop charts.

[1967] Dutch Princess Margret weds Pieter von Vollenhoven.

[1996] King Hussein of Jordan visits Israel.

[2004] 9th Critics' Choice Movie Awards: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King wins Best Film.

[2009] "The Black Eyed Peas" singer Fergie (33) weds actor Josh Duhamel (36) at Church Estate Vineyards in Malibu, California.

[2011] FIFA Ballon d'Or: Barcelona forward Lionel Messi wins 2nd straight award from teammates Andrés Iniesta and Xavi.

[2015] 72 people killed and 169 hospitalized after a mass poisoning of beer with crocodile bile at a funeral in Mozambique.

[2019] 13 year-old Jayme Closs escapes her kidnapper after 3 months in captivity in Wisconsin.