Mexico had borrowed substantial sums from France, England, and Spain, and was unable to make their payments. Troops landed at Veracruz, some money was paid and commitments made, which satisfied the English and Spanish. Napoleon III wanted to establish a Mexican Empire and marched on Mexico City. Two years later his nephew Maximilian was crowned Emperor of Mexico. Failing to win the affection of the people his reign was a constant struggle and he was executed after three years. He should have known better, based on that first march to the capital where Mexican soldiers and peasants were outnumbered 3-to-1 and still turned back the mighty French. It's the busiest day of the year in Mexican restaurants everywhere, Cinco de Mayo. This issue closes with a great Churchill quote about fighting against the odds.
It's history when any person does something that hasn't been done before. We have a couple of those today. Just twelve years ago Eugene Antonio Marino became the first black archbishop in the Roman Catholic Church in the US. Almost 40 years ago Alan Shepherd became the first American in space. (Ten years later he was the first golfer on the moon.)
One person who has shaped my life, or at least my shape, is among the birthdays today: James Beard. I've included a pair of food quotes for the occasion.
1862 - French Commander Conde de Lorencez led about 7,000 experienced troops to Puebla, Mexico, on the way to capture Mexico City. Napoleon wanted to install Maximillian as Emperor of Mexico. General Ignacio Zaragoza assembled a motley army of some 2,000, mostly poorly trained farm workers, to stop them. They did, and over 1,000 French soldiers died, but it was five more years before the war was won.
1961 - Freedom 7, powered by a Redstone 3 rocket, carries Alan B. Shepherd, Jr. 116 miles above sea level on a 15-minute trip, the first time an American left earth's atmosphere. The capsule landed off Bermuda, 302 miles from the launch site, reaching a speed of 5,180 miles per hour, which was then considered fast.
1988 - Eugene Antonio Marino, 53, was installed as the archbishop of Atlanta, becoming the first black Roman Catholic archbishop in the U.S.
Patriots' Victory Day, Ethiopia - Celebrates the return of Emperor Haile Sellassie from exile in France after the end of fascist Italy's 1936 to 1941 occupation. Also celebrated by some on 6 April, the anniversary of the actual withdrawal of troops.
Tango-no-sekku, Japan - A national holiday corresponding to the Doll Festival for girls. Also known as Boys' Festival or Children's Day.
1282 - Juan Manuel, Infante de Castile, Spanish politician, soldier, writer - Nephew of Alfonso X, involved in Castilian court. Infante is Spanish meaning a son of the king who is not an heir to the throne. Wrote Libro del Conde Lucanor, a collection of 50 moral tales that became source material for later writers including Chaucer and Boccaccio. Died between 1347 and 1349,
1867 - Elizabeth Cochrane Seaman, US journalist - Writing as Nellie Bly she was the first female investigative reporter, disguised as a factory worker and an insane person she experienced sweatshops and Blackwell's Island asylum in New York, and wrote pieces that lead to reform. In 1889 set out to travel around the world in 75 days, did it in 72. Married in 1895, widowed in 1904, tried to run husband's business but bankrupt in 1911, returned to writing news. Died 27 January 1922.
1903 - James Andrew Beard, US gourmet - Born in Portland, Oregon, sought theatrical career US and Europe. Opened catering business 1935. Served in WW II setting up canteens for sailors in South America, and a little code cracking. Published 7 books in 10 years after the war, started cooking school in 1955. Died 21 January 1985.
Health food makes me sick.
- Calvin Trillin
Why does man kill? He kills for food. And not only food: frequently there
must be a beverage.
- Woody Allen
If you will not fight for the right when you can easily win without bloodshed;
if you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not too costly;
you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds
against you and only a small chance of survival. There may even be a worse
case: you may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because
it is better to perish than to live as slaves.
- Winston Churchill
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