It is completely unthinkable that the US would attack Canada, but that hasn't always been the case. On this day in 1866 an army of Irish Americans, with the expectation that their successful invasion of Canada would be accepted by the US government, won a battle in their vain attempt to create an Irish republic in what was then British North America. They had met with President Johnson, who allegedly promised to accept the results of their war. Their plans were too well known, the British arrested the Canadian conspirators, the attack from Maine failed, another US attack fizzled, and after the Battle of Ridgeway the victors attempted to regroup south of the border but were arrested by the US Army. The campaigns did nothing to improve matters in Ireland, and increased Canadian interest in a stronger federation.
The life of the Marquis de Sade stands as a popular symbol of dissipation, decadence, and cruelty. Looked at more closely, most of his behavior would barely get him on the TV news in many American cities today. In pre-revolution France he wasn't much more remarkable, the king had a "Minister of Gentle Arts" that arranged his frequent orgies at public expense. When he was named as a judge during The Terror in revolutionary Paris, he didn't have the stomach to send the accused to the guillotine and let most of them go. When he quit, Robespierre threw him in prison for moderation - something we aren't likely to associate with the de Sade name. He spent almost half of his adult life in prison, and did almost all of his writing there. In modern times there is no doubt that an insanity defense would be invoked.
1866 - The Fenians, a group of US Irish veterans of the Civil War officially organized as the Irish Republican Brotherhood, planned an attack against Canada, hoping to establish an Irish Republic in exile, occupy British troops in Canada in hopes of drawing British forces out of Ireland, and possibly involve the US and Britain in another war. The five-pronged attack scenario was generally a disaster, but on this date the Fenians won their only battle at Ridgeway, Ontario.
1875 - James A. Healy was consecrated bishop over the Diocese of Maine, making him the first African-American bishop in the history of American Catholicism.
1953 - Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Mountbatten-Windsor was crowned by the Archbishop of Canterbury in Westminster Abbey, London, assuming the title "Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith."
Proclamation of the Republic Day, Italy - On this day in 1946 a referendum is presented at the polls, and 54% of Italian voters choose a republic over the existing monarchy. The Constituent Assembly was elected at the same time. It was the first time Italian women had voted.
1740 - Donatien Alphonse François de Sade, French aristocrat, writer - Born at Paris, France to foreign diplomat, mother was lady in waiting at court. Donatien fought with the young crown prince, was sent to live with his grandmother in a worldly and sensual female environment. Father stopped that, sent him to the worldly and sensual male world of his uncle, then to the Jesuits, then to military school, served in the army in Seven Years War. Married in May 1763, he kept a mistress and frequented the brothels, was arrested in October for "excesses" in his favorite. A year after his release Paris police warned brothels not to put their girls with him. Demanding ever more varied diversions he was in and out of prisons, defended by his wife who often helped him escape. Spent 11 years in prison, writing the world which he could not live in, was released with the rest of the prisoners on Bastille Day. He was a lenient judge during The Terrors, quit in disgust, and was imprisoned again by Robespiere for "moderation." Sold his estate, burned through the money, was back in prison in 1801, eventually in Charenton insane asylum for his last decade, dying there 2 December 1814.
1857 - Sir Edward William Elgar, English musician - Born at Broadheath, father was a piano tuner and owned a music store. Took lessons in organ and violin, learned what he could in local church music activities and music societies. Became freelance musician at age 16, never held a full-time position. Organist at St George's Church, London, violinist in several orchestras. Wrote his Imperial March in 1897 for Queen Victoria's Jubilee, best known today as the composer of Pomp and Circumstance. Wife died in 1920, he wrote little from then until his death at Worcester on 23 February 1934.
The passions are the humors of the mind, and the least excess sickens
our judgment. If the disease spreads to the mouth, your reputation will
be in danger.
- Baltasar Gracian
Excesses are essentially gestures. It is easy to be extremely cruel,
magnanimous, humble, or self-sacrificing when we see ourselves as actors
in a performance.
- Eric Hoffer
The mother of excess is not pleasure, but the lack of it.
- Friedrich Nietzsche
Handel is the greatest composer who ever lived. I would bare my head
and kneel at his grave.
- Ludwig van Beethoven
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