The Italian architect Palladio (1508 - 1580) thought he was reviving classical Roman architecture but actually created his own style, possibly the most copied architect ever. Charles Bullfinch, born this day in 1763, was following the style of Palladio and Christopher Wren when he created the Federal style which dominated major architecture for four important decades in American history, a time when architecture was important in creating an image of American identity and import. He designed 42 buildings, mostly institutions and large homes, at a time when architecture wasn't a recognized profession, only in Paris was it taught in any school. I think this is the first time we have covered both father and son in the pages of Twisted History, his son Thomas (born 15 July 1796) was the author of Bullfinch's Mythology.
Today's events include a pair of spectacular defeats. During the first three decades of Queen Elizabeth's reign Spain was the most powerful nation in Europe and King Phillip II had been a friend and supporter of the English queen. Differences of religion drove them apart and Francis Drake had been making a nice living plundering Spain's shipping and ports, so Phillip launched the Invincible Armada. He named an unwilling and untrained nobleman to lead the fleet, which was soundly defeated off Calais. Several centuries later, the man who had won the largest majority in US presidential history threw in the towel.
The day was happier for the perpetrators of The Great Train Robbery, the largest theft in British history, although most of them were apprehended and sentenced to long prison sentences before too long. Two Frenchmen, Michel-Gabriel Paccard and Jacques Balmat, took a very long and very high walk on this day, becoming the first to climb the tallest peak in Europe.
1588 - The battle of Gravelines, the turning point of Spanish King Phillip II's attack on Elizabeth's England, saw the British fleet commanded by Lord Howard and Sir Francis Drake defeat the Spanish Armada. The two fleets were closely matched in warships, the British had the upper hand in strategy and cannon. The Spanish commander, Duke of Medina Sidonia, retreated north to circle the British Isles and return to Spain with only 67 of his original 130 ships.
1786 - Michel-Gabriel Paccard and Jacques Balmat were the first climbers to reach the summit of Massif du Mont Blanc, the highest peak in the Alps at 4807 meters (about 15800 feet).
1911 - US Patent number 1,000,000 was issued to Francis H. Holton of Summit, Ohio for a "vehicle tire."
1963 - Near Cheddington, England, a gang in masks hot-wired a railroad signal and stopped the Glasgow to London mail train, uncoupled and drove the engines away, and took 120 mail bags containing 2.6 million pounds of cash and valuables (over seven million dollars) to a hideout, where they left lots of fingerprints - The Great Train Robbery.
1974 - At a White House press conference, Richard M. Nixon announces that he will resign the office of president in favor of Vice President Gerald Ford effective at noon the following day. Chief Justice Warren E. Burger ended his vacation in Amsterdam to fly back to swear the new president in. The announcement came less than two years after the largest landslide in the history of the US presidency, exactly six years after Nixon won the Republican nomination for his first term.
Nane Nane, Tanzania - Literally "eight eight" representing the date, a national holiday honoring farmers and livestock keepers, featuring agricultural fairs and government-sponsored training seminars. Farming in the earlier days of the republic was mostly limited to old men, the holiday and training opportunities are to make agricultural work more attractive to women and younger men. Also called Farmers' Day.
1763
- Charles Bulfinch, US architect - Born at Boston, Massachusetts
to a wealthy third-generation Boston family, educated at Harvard. After
graduating took the grand tour of Europe 1785 - 1787, particularly England,
France, and northern Italy. Bullfinch measured and sketched, significantly
the churches of Christopher Wren in London and the English Neoclassical
work of Scottish architect Robert Adam, later the buildings designed by
Palladio (major influence in Wren's style) in Italy. His tour was partly
guided by Thomas Jefferson, whose own architecture was largely shaped
by Palladio. Built statehouse in Boston ca 1794, when he had already been
a member of the board of selectmen of Boston for four years. The other
selectmen esteemed him so highly that when he was not reelected the remainder
of the board resigned as a group and forced another election, and Bulfinch
was returned to his seat. He also built the statehouses of Connecticut
and Maine. Lost his fortune in a housing development he planned shortly
after the birth of his son Thomas in 1796. At the request of President
Monroe, Bullfinch took over the Capitol in Washington City, serving as
architect there 1817 - 1830. He built the central section with a low copper-covered
wooden dome (since replaced) and designed the grounds, as well as supervising
restorations from damage done by British troops in War of 1812. Died at
Boston on 4 April 1844.
Architect: One who drafts a plan of your house, and plans a draft of
your money.
- Ambrose Bierce
Architecture is inhabited sculpture.
- Constantine Brancusi
Architecture is the alphabet of giants; it is the largest set of symbols
ever made to meet the eyes of men. A tower stands up like a sort of simplified
stature, of much more than heroic size.
- G. K. Chesterton
An architect's most useful tools are an eraser at the drafting board,
and a wrecking bar at the site.
- Frank Lloyd Wright
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