Poor Gabriel's Almanac

Interesting things that happened May 23rd:

Birthdays on this date:

In 1707 Carolus Linnćus (Carl von Linné, in Sweden), botanist, taxonimist
In 1734 Franz Anton Mesmer, physician
In 1810 Margaret Fuller, journalist, feminist
In 1844 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Baha'i religious leader, son of founder Baha'u'llah
In 1846 Arabella Mansfield, lawyer (1st female admitted to US bar, 1869)
In 1883 Douglas Fairbanks, first and greatest of Hollywood's swashbucklers
In 1910 Artie Shaw, band leader
+ Scatman Crothers, actor (The Shining), musician, voice artist
In 1919 Betty Garrett (in St Joseph, MO), actor (On The Town), dancer
In 1921 James Blish, author (several Star Trek novels)
In 1923 Alicia de Larrocha, classical pianist
In 1928 Rosemary Clooney (in Kentucky), singer, actor (White Christmas)
In 1931 Barbara Barrie (in Chicago), actor (Barney Miller), author
In 1933 Joan Collins (in London), actor (Dynasty), author
+ Seabiscuit, racehorse
In 1952 'Marvelous' Marvin Hagler (in New Jersey), boxer
In 1958 Mitch Albom, writer

Events worth noting:

+ Day of Disunity (Discordianism)
In 1430 Joan of Arc captured by Burgundians who sold her to the English.
In 1498 Girolamo Savonarola is burned at the stake in Florence, Italy.
In 1533 King Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon marriage declared null and void by the newly formed Church of England.
In 1568 Netherlands declares independence from Spain.
In 1701 Convicted of piracy and murder, Captain Kidd is hanged in London.
In 1788 South Carolina became the eighth state of the Union.
In 1846 Mexico declares war on the United States.
In 1861 Virginia citizens vote 3 to 1 in favor of secession.
In 1862 Valley Campaign - Stonewall Jackson takes Fort Royal, Virginia.
In 1863 The Seventh-day Adventist Church was founded, in Battle Creek, MI.
In 1864 Battle of North Anna, VA. First of 3 days of fighting.
In 1873 Postal Cards sold in San Francisco for first time.
+ Canada's North West Mounted Police force was established.
In 1886 1st Canadian transcontinental passenger train arrives at Vancouver.
In 1898 First Phillipine Expeditionary Troops sail from San Francisco.
In 1900 Sgt. William Harvey Carney becomes 1st African American to be awarded the Medal of Honor, for his heroism during the Civil War.
In 1903 H. Jackson and Sewall Crocker leave SF headed for NY driving a Winton on the first automobile trip across US. (ending July 26)
In 1908 Dirigible explodes over SF Bay, 16 passengers fall, none die.
In 1911 NY Public Library building at Fifth Avenue dedicated by Pres. Taft.
In 1915 Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary in World War I.
In 1921 "Shuffle Along," the first black musical comedy, opens in New York City.
In 1934 Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow shot to death in Louisana ambush.
In 1937 Industrialist John D. Rockfeller died in Ormond Beach, FL.
In 1945 Nazi Himmler committed suicide while in prison at Luneburg, Germany.
In 1948 Joe DiMaggio hits three consecutive homers.
In 1949 The Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) is established.
In 1956 World Trade Center dedicated in Ferry Building.
In 1960 Israel announced capture of Nazi Adolf Eichmann in Argentina.
In 1967 Egypt closes the Straits of Tiran to Israeli shipping.
In 1969 The Who release "Tommy", the first rock opera.
In 1989 Earthquake in The Macquarie Islands (8.2 on the Richter scale).
In 1997 Seyyed Khatami wins the Iranian president election in a landslide, advocating a gentler interpretation of Islamic law.
In 1998 The Good Friday Agreement ratified in a referendum in N. Ireland.
In 2002 Iceland ratifies Kyoto Protocol, activating the "55 parties" clause.

And remember ...

National Hamburger Month

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Although efforts have been taken to ensure the accuracy of this information, several errors have been found in the past. Don't place any bets on the basis of what you find here. If you spot an error, write to Poor Gabriel at poorgabriel@mystery.com .