February 19 Dateline

Birthdays

1473 - Nicolaus Copernicus, Polish astronomer, a Renaissance polymath, mathematician, and Catholic canon. His understanding of the solar system overturns the idea that the universe revolves around the earth. He was the first to describe the planets revolving around the sun.

1743 - Luigi Boccherini, Italian cellist and composer, best known for a minuet from his String Quintet in E, Op. 11, No. 5 (G275), and Cello Concerto in B flat major (G 482). The latter work was long known in the heavily altered version by German cellist and prolific arranger Friedrich Grützmacher, but has recently been restored to its original version.He also composed guitar quintets, including the "Fandango", which was influenced by Spanish music. (Boccherini: Complete Flute Quintets. YouTube, uploaded by Brilliant Classics. Accessed February 19, 2022.) 

1873 - John Reed Swanton, American anthropologist, folklorist, ethnologist, and linguist. He worked with Native American peoples throughout the United States. Swanton achieved recognition in the fields of ethnology and ethnohistory. He is noted for his work with indigenous peoples of the Southeast and Pacific Northwest. He was one of the founding members of the Swedenborg Scientific Association in 1898 and was president of the American Anthropological Association in 1932. He also served as editor of the American Anthropological Association's flagship journal, American Anthropologist.

1902 - Kay Boyle, American short story writer, novelist, educator, and political activist. She was a Guggenheim Fellows and O. Henry Award winner. Boyle published more than 40 books, including 14 novels, 8 volumes of poetry, 11 collections of short fiction, 3 children's books, and French to English translations and essays. A comprehensive assessment of Boyle's life and work was published in 1986 titled Kay Boyle, Artist and Activist by Sandra Whipple Spanier. In 1994 Joan Mellen published a voluminous biography of Kay Boyle, Kay Boyle: Author of Herself. In 1980 she received the National Endowment for the Arts fellowship for "extraordinary contribution to American literature over a lifetime of creative work".

1924 - Lee Marvin, American film and television actor known for his distinctive voice and premature white hair. He initially appeared in supporting roles, and hardboiled characters. A prominent TV role was that of Detective Lieutenant Frank Ballinger in the crime series M Squad. Marvin is best remembered for his lead roles as "tough guy" characters such as Rico Fardan in The Professionals, Major John Reisman in The Dirty Dozen, Walker in Point Blank. One of Marvin's notable movie projects was Cat Ballou, a comedy Western in which he played dual roles. For portraying both gunfighter Kid Shelleen and criminal Tim Strawn, he won the Academy Award for Best Actor, along with a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, an NBR Award, and the Silver Bear for Best Actor.

1940 - Smokey Robinson (William "Smokey" Robinson Jr.), American singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, and former record executive. He was the founder and frontman of the Motown vocal group the Miracles, for which he was also chief songwriter and producer. His genres: R&B (Rhythm & Blues), Soul, and Pop.

1952 - Amy Ruth Tan, American author known for The Joy Luck Club, which was adapted into a film in 1993 by director Wayne Wang. Tan has written several other novels, including The Kitchen God's Wife, The Hundred Secret Senses, The Bonesetter's Daughter, Saving Fish from Drowning, and The Valley of Amazement.

1960 - Prince Andrew, Duke of York, KG, GCVO, CD, ADC, member of the British Royal family. He is the third child and second son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. He was second in the line of succession to the British throne when he was born, and is eighth in line as of June 2020.

Lefties:
None known

More birthdays and historical events, February 19 - On This Day

 

 

Feature:

Luigi Boccherini's beautiful Complete Cello Concerti, with Julius Berger.  Played on Boccherini's Stradivari-Violoncello. The painting is "Among the Sierra Nevada Mountains" by Albert Bierstadt.

Historical Events

1878 - The phonograph is patented by Thomas Alva Edison.  

1906 - Wheat flakes made by Dr. John Kellogg and his brother Will go on sale in the U.S.  

1915 - The Battle of Gallipoli officially begins.

1985 - EastEnders first airs on television across Great Britain.
 
2004 - Nazi-hunter Simon Wiesenthal is awarded honorary knighthood for a "lifetime of service to humanity."

2006 - The Rolling Stones hold the world's largest concert in Copacabana beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. more than one million people in attendance.


Video Credit:

Luigi Boccherini Complete Concertos. YouTube, uploaded by messer citrazzo. Accessed February 19, 2018.




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


(c) June 2007.Updated February 19, 2023. Tel. Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.