February 7 Dateline

Birthdays

1478 - Sir Thomas More, English statesman, lawyer, social philosopher author, and notedRenaissance humanist. He was venerated in the Catholic Church as Saint Thomas More. He was also a councillor to Henry VIII, and Lord High Chancellor of England from October 1529 to 16 May 1532.

1812 - Charles Dickens, FRSA, English author and social critic, one of the greatest names in English literature. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. His most popular books include Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations and A Christmas Carol. ("There is a wisdom of the head, and... there is a wisdom of the heart." - C. Dickens. His works are highly read today.  Dickens has been praised by many of his fellow writers—from Leo Tolstoy to George Orwell, —for his realism, comedy, prose style, unique characterisations, and social criticism. However, Oscar Wilde, Henry James, and Virginia Woolf complained of a lack of psychological depth, loose writing, and a vein of sentimentalism. The term Dickensian is used to describe something that is reminiscent of Dickens and his writings, such as poor social conditions or comically repulsive characters. (Literature - Charles Dickens. The School of Life. Accessed February 7, 2018.)

1864 - Ricardo Castro Herrera (Rafael de la Santísima Trinidad Castro Herrera), Mexican concert pianist and composer, considered the last romantic of the time of Porfirio Díaz. He studied with Teresa Carreño while in Europe. When he returned to Mexico he was appointed music director of the National Conservatory of Music by Justo Sierra until he died in Mexico City in November 1907. Castro's music for piano tends to be very colourful and sentimental with a kind of virtuosity in the style of Liszt. He connects many musical themes in his brilliant passages. (Vals capricho Ricardo Castro (with score). YouTube, uploaded by Cuicamatini. Accessed February 7, 2014.)

1867 - Laura Elizabeth Ingalls Wilder, American writer, mostly known for the Little House on the Prairie series of children's books, published between 1932 and 1943, which were based on her childhood in a settler and pioneer family. During the 1970s and early 1980s, the television series Little House on the Prairie was loosely based on the Little House books, and starred Melissa Gilbert as Laura and Michael Landon as her father, Charles Ingalls. 

 

1871 - Carl Wilhelm Eugen Stenhammar, Swedish composer, conductor and pianist. Brought up in a cultivated and musical family, he had little formal training. His earlier music is in late Romantic style showing influences from Wagner,Liszt and Brahms. His music has a Nordic colour. Hwas conductor of the Royal Orchestra at Stockholm. His works include opera Tirfing, incidental music plays including Stindberg's Ett romspel, two symphonies, two piano concertos, a serenade, cantatas, six string quartets and songs. His song Sverige made him a national hero. (Stenhammar: Sverige - Stockholms Musikgymnasiums Kammarkör, Sweden. Sweden, Dir.: Helene Stureborg. YouTube, uploaded by DolfRabus. Accessed February 7, 2021.)

Leftie:
None known

More birthdays and historical events, February 7 - On This Day

Historical Events

1856 - The colonial Tasmanian Parliament in Australia passes the first piece of legislation (the Electoral Act 1856) anywhere in the world providing for elections by way of a secret ballot.

1971 - Women gain the right to vote in Switzerland.

1873 - Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 2, "Little Russian," is first performed in Moscow. Tchaikovsky Symphony 2 Op 17 'Little Russian' John Eliot Gardiner RCO. The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. The Concertgebouw Amsterdam. 7 December 2012.

1904 - The Russian-Japanese War begun.

1992 - The European Union is formed.



Resources:

1. Asiado, Tel. The World's Movers and Shapers. New Hampshire: Ore Mountain Publishing House (2005)
2. Britannica. www.britannica.com
3. Chambers Biographical Dictionary, 19th Ed. London: Chambers Harrap, 2011
4. Dateline. Sydney: Millennium House, (2006)
5. Grun, Bernard. The Timetables of History, New 3rd Revised Ed. Simon & Schuster/Touchstone (1991)
6. Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org



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