It may have been the event that first changed my opinion of history, the very sound of the word "defenestration" got my attention, and the image of important persons flying out of windows appealed to my whimsy. In more recent times defenestration has led to death, as buildings have become somewhat taller, but the original was only embarrassing. It happened on this day in 1618.
The earth is filled with creatures beyond imagining, beyond naming. But it's in our natures to name them, and Carolus Linnaeus was the first to approach this systematically. The organization of different things into categories is called taxonomy, Linnaeus invented the concept. We still have common names in each language for the plants and animals around us, and though they are easier for most of us to remember that doesn't serve a scientist. The system starts with the kingdoms, and is divided into classes and orders and phyla and finally genera and species, the last two forming the "binomial" names. A couple of my favorites are "Pseudotsuga menziesii," which means "the false hemlock named by Menzies" which most call a Douglas fir, and the tiny common fruitfly gets the impressive name "Drosophila melanogaster."
For some, shaving is a matter of hygiene, for others (including your obedient servant) not shaving is a matter of efficiency. Both camps have to wonder about sideburns and mustaches, but the man for whom side burns were named, General Ambrose Burnside, stood out in a crowd with a cleanly shaven chin and wild whiskers on the sides and upper lip as he appeared during his military career. Just as well, he probably would prefer we not dwell on his record during the Civil War.
1430 - Jehanne, the Maid of Orlean (Joan of Arc) ended her last military campaign as she was captured by the Burgundians at the town of Compiegne. In a retreat from an ambush, Jehanne stayed at the rear enabling most of her troop to escape, and was bodily pulled from her horse by a swarm of Burgundian infantry.
1533 - Catherine of Aragon had marital problems with the sons of Henry VII. She married the elder son, Arthur, but he was not well and died within months. Her parents, Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain, arranged that she should next marry Henry who was then heir to the throne. Such a marriage was forbidden in Leviticus, so dispensation was sought and received from the pope, even though Catherine claimed not to have consummated the marriage with Arthur. They wed and, in time, Henry fell in love with Anne Boleyn and sought a divorce on the grounds that his marriage was improper. The pope said no, Henry created the Anglican church, and on this day was granted a divorce form Catherine, wife number one.
1618 - The Bohemiam nobility was in revolt against the Hapsburg Emperor Rudolph II over religious freedom, at a meeting at the Hrdcany Castle in Prague two imperial governors, Wilhelm Graf Slavata and Jaroslav Borzita Graf von Marinicz along with their secretary, were thrown out a castle window and into a ditch for closing Protestant churches. The incident is known as "The Defenestration of Prague" and touched off the Thirty Years War.
Labour Day, Jamaica - Celebrates the role of working men and women, includes widespread tree planting.
1707 - Carl Linné, Swedish physician, botanist - Born at Stenbrohult in southern Sweden, showed early fascination for plants and their names. Studied medicine at University of Lund, later University of Uppsala, but spent most of this time collecting plants. Finished medical degree in Holland 1735, published the first edition of Systema Naturae, the first system of taxonomy in which all living things were divided based on their reproductive details, and all species were referred to by two names (binomial) for genus and species. Personal physician to the royal family in 1761. Generally known by his latinized name, Carolus Linnaeus. The details of his work have mostly been changed, but the basic system of taxonomy he developed is still in use. Died following a stroke on 10 January 1778.
1824
- Ambrose Everett Burnside, US soldier - Born in Liberty, Indiana
to a Quaker family, pursued a military career after mother's death in
1841, graduated fifth in West Point class of 1847. Artillery officer in
Mexican war, designed new breach-loading carbine. Married, moved to Rhode
Island, established factory to manufacture his rifle. Initially rejected
by army, the Burnside Carbine was important later in Civil War. Shaved
his chin but left amazing black growth on cheeks and upper lip, called
"side burns" in his honor. Mixed success in army during Civil War, both
as head of Rhode Island Militia and with Army of the Potomac. Governor
of Rhode Island 1866 - 1868, Senator 1870 until his sudden death on 13
September 1881.
There are people who always find a hair in their soup for the simple
reason that when they sit down before it, they shake their heads until
one falls in.
- Friedrich Hebbel
Many a doctrine is like a window pane. We see truth through it but it
divides us from truth.
- Khalil Gibran
When others kid me about being bald, I simply tell them that the way
I figure it, the good Lord only gave men so many hormones, and if others
want to waste theirs on growing hair, that's up to them.
- John Glenn
Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every
once and a while, or the light won't come in.
- Alan Alda
Twisted History is sent daily, absolutely free, to our subscribers who understand that the events of the past centuries have shaped our lives today - and are probably less depressing than the events on today's TV news. Both an HTML version (which looks just like this) and a text version that is compatible with all mail clients are available.
Copyright 2000 G. Armour Van Horn, all rights reserved. This document may be distributed freely. Please forward the complete message including this copyright notice.