Today is the birthday of a remarkable Mexican, a father three ways, Miguel Hidalgo Y Costilla. He was a Roman Catholic father who served his parishes both spiritually and by attempting to lift his native flock out of desparate poverty. He was the father of two girls. And he is called the Father of Mexican Independence. His economic efforts, which included improved farming methods, raising silkworms, leather processing, pottery, and brick making, were met by reprisals from Spanish troops. His rebel army was more a mob than an organized force, but the date of their uprising is celebrated as Mexican Independence Day. The church excommunicated him before the uprising, and defrocked him after his arrest. We don't know how his daughters turned out. A great example of a real person making real history, warts and all.
A very important American musician was born on this day in New Orleans, although his name rarely comes up today. Louis Moreau Gottschalk was a resounding success during his short life, touring three continents constantly, both conducting his own symphonic works and playing the piano. (He called New Orleans home, but never spent two full weeks there after he left at age 13 for Paris.) Steeped in popular French and Creole (what we would call Cajun) music, he studied formally in Paris, and his compositions synthesize all these influences. His cause of death was never definite, but it seems that life on the road did him in.
I could add VE Day in the holiday department, or Harry Truman's birth in three categories (it's a birthday, it's a holiday in his home state, and on his 80th he was the first former president to address the US Senate) but I think you look to Twisted History for items less well known than these.
1429 - Jehanne Darc, popularly known as Joan of Arc, after arriving at the besieged city of Orleans by a side entrance on 29 April, lifts the seven months long English siege of that city.
1886 - John Stith Pemberton, a druggist in Atlanta, Georgia, modifies a cocaine and wine tonic to be distributed after Atlanta citizens vote to become "dry" effective July of that year. The syrup would soon be named Coca-Cola.
1945 - At noon on this day, the surrender of all German forces to the Allies takes effect. The surrender was signed at 2:41 am on the 7th by Generaloberst Jodl in a schoolhouse at Rheims, France, but in deference to the Soviets a second surrender is made on this day to Marshall Zhukov at Karlshorst, a suburb of Berlin.
World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day, Celebrates the creation of over 176 national societies worldwide and the Magen David Adom in Israel, it is scheduled based on the 1828 birth Jean Henri Dunant, the Swiss philanthropist who founded the International Red Cross.
1753 - Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, Mexican priest, politician - Born near Guanajuato, attended two colleges in Morelia, theology degree from National Autonomous University of Mexico. Ordained a priest in 1878. Assigned to Dolores (now Dolores Hidalgo) in 1808 where he delegated most priestly duties and attempted to improve the economics of his parish. Led a peasant army against the Spanish on 16 September 1810, prevailed on 10 October but subsequently crushed. Hidalgo captured on 21 March 1811, defrocked, and shot on 31 July 1811. He placed his right hand over his heart and calmly told the firing squad to aim for the hand.
1829 - Louis Moreau Gottschalk, US composer, pianist - Born in New Orleans, lived in a house overlooking Congo Square, a regular site of outdoor performance. A piano prodigy, played French opera tunes he heard, was influenced by Creole and Caribbean music he was surrounded by. At age 13 left for Paris for piano and composition training, successful performance tours in France, Switzerland, and Spain. Returned to US 1853, grand success on tours of US, Europe, and South America. His symphonies first to include African and Cuban instruments, his two opera were never performed. Died at Tijuca, Brazil on 18 December 1869.
It seems to be a law of our own minds that we find the art forms of our
fathers hideous, the art forms of our grandfathers amusing and those our
great-grandfathers attractive and even beautiful.
- James Laver
Life is like music, it must be composed by ear, feeling and instinct,
not by rule. Nevertheless one had better know the rules, for they sometimes
guide in doubtful cases though not often.
- Samuel Butler
You ask: 'What is our aim?' I can answer in one word: 'Victory!' Victory
at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and
hard the road may be: for without victory there is no survival.
- Sir Winston Churchill
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