Profile of the Day

On this day in 1903, the Wright Brothers, Orville and Wilbur Wright, made history by making the world’s first sustained, man-powered, heavier-than-air flight near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Image: First flight of the Wright Flyer / Library of Congress The Wright brothers grew up in a close household that fostered their creativity. Fascinated with flying from an early age, the brothers sought to make human flight a reality. On December 17, 1903, the brothers took their… Read the full story

On December 16, 1775, English novelist Jane Austen was born in Steventon, England. Image: Jane Austen / Wikimedia Commons The seventh of eight children, Austen grew up in a large, close knit family. Jane’s parents, George and Cassandra Austen, were members of substantial gentry families. Growing up, Austen would write poems, stories, and plays for her family’s amusement. It wasn’t until Austen was in her thirties that she publish her first novels. From 1811-1816, Austen… Read the full story

On this day in 1799, George Washington died at his estate in Mount Vernon, Virginia. He was 67 years old. Image: George Washington / Wikimedia Commons Washington is remembered as one of the most important figures in American history. Born in 1732 on his family’s estate in Westmoreland County, Virginia, Washington led the Continental Army to victory during the American Revolution and served as the nation’s first President. In 1797, Washington retired from the presidency, establishing… Read the full story

Pioneering astronomer Annie Jump Cannon was born on December 11, 1863 in Dover, Delaware. Nicknamed the “Census Taker of the Sky,” Cannon was instrumental in the development of the current system of stellar classification. Image: Annie Jump Cannon / Library of Congress Cannon was the eldest of three daughters born to Wilson Lee Cannon, a ship builder and Delaware state senator, and his second wife, Mary Elizabeth Jump. From a young age, Cannon had a… Read the full story

“That it will never come again is what makes life so sweet.” – Emily Dickinson On this day in 1830, poet Emily Dickinson was born in Amherst, Massachusetts. Image: Emily Dickinson / Yale University Manuscripts & Archives Digital Images Database With deep ancestral roots in New England, Dickinson lived much of her life in her family’s homestead in Amherst. She was born to a prominent family with strong ties to the community. Her paternal grandfather,… Read the full story

Happy birthday to The Dude! Today actor Jeff Bridges celebrates his 71st birthday. Image: Jeff Bridges / Gage Skidmore (CC BY-SA 3.0) Bridges was born on December 4, 1949 in Los Angeles, California to actors Lloyd and Dorothy Bridges. Born into a Hollywood family, the Academy Award winning actor made his big screen debut as a baby in the 1951 film, The Company She Keeps. Growing up, he and his older brother, Beau, made occasional appearances on their… Read the full story

On this day in 1857, author Joseph Conrad was born in Berdychiv, in what is now Ukraine. Conrad is often regarded as one of the greatest novelists in the English language, but did not speak the language fluently until he was in his twenties. Image: Joseph Conrad / New York Public Library Born Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski, Conrad was the only child of Apollo Korzeniowski and Ewelina Bobrawska. His father was a poet, playwright and clandestine political activist. At the… Read the full story

On this day in 1914, baseball legend Joe DiMaggio was born. Considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time, DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak record still stands today. Image: Joe DiMaggio / Library of Congress DiMaggio was born on November 25, 1914 in Martinez, California. He was the eighth of nine children born to Italian immigrant parents, Giuseppe DiMaggio and Rosalia Mercurio. His father worked as a fisherman and had hoped his sons would… Read the full story

Did you ever have a fear of Frankenstein’s monster? It may be thanks to actor Boris Karloff’s frightening yet sympathetic turn as the iconic horror figure. Image: Boris Karloff / Wikimedia Commons Karloff was born William Henry Pratt on November 23, 1887 in London, England to Edward John Pratt, Jr. and Eliza Sarah Millard. His maternal grandmother, Eliza Julia Edwards, was the sister of Anna Leonowens, whose life in the royal court of Siam formed… Read the full story

Do you have Swedish ancestry? On this day in 1858, Swedish author Selma Lagerlöf was born. In 1909, Lagerlöf became the first female writer to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature. Image: Selma Lagerlöf / Library of Congress Lagerlöf was born on November 20, 1858 in Mårbacka, her family’s estate, in Värmland, Sweden. She was the fifth of six children born to Erik Gustaf Lagerlöf, a lieutenant in the Royal Värmland Regiment, and Louise Wallroth…. Read the full story

On November 19, 1831, James Garfield was born in a log cabin in Orange Township, Ohio. Garfield served as the 20th President of the United States. Image: James Garfield / Library of Congress Garfield had come from very humble beginnings. His father, Abram Garfield, was a wrestler and died when Garfield was just 18 months old. He was raised by his mother, Eliza Ballou, who also continued to run the family’s small farm in Ohio. In… Read the full story

On this day in 1923, astronaut Alan Shepard was born in East Derry, New Hampshire. Shepard made history when he became the first American to travel into space. Image: Alan Shepard / NASA In 1951, he was one of 110 military test pilots invited by NASA to volunteer for the first U.S. manned space flight program. After a series of grueling physical and psychological tests, Shepard was selected to be one of the original seven… Read the full story

Remember reading Treasure Island? On this day in 1850, author Robert Louis Stevenson was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. A literary celebrity in his lifetime, today Stevenson is one of the most translated authors in the world. Image: Robert Louis Stevenson / State Library of New South Wales Stevenson was the child of Margaret Balfour and Thomas Stevenson, a leading lighthouse engineer and meteorologist. Lighthouse engineering was a family profession. In addition to his father, two of… Read the full story

On this day in 1815, American suffragist Elizabeth Cady Stanton was born. An early leader of the women’s rights movement in the United States, Stanton helped pave the way for the eventual passage of the Nineteenth Amendment, which granted women the right to vote. Image: Elizabeth Cady Stanton / Library of Congress Stanton was born on November 12, 1815 in Johnstown, New York to Daniel Cady and Margaret Livingston. Her father was a prominent lawyer and… Read the full story

In honor of Veterans Day, today we highlight General George S. Patton who was born on this day in 1885. A hero of World War II, Patton was instrumental to the liberation of Germany from the Nazis. Image: General George Patton / Library of Congress George Smith Patton, Jr. was born on November 11, 1885 in San Gabriel, California. His family had an extensive military background, dating as far back as the American Revolution and the Civil… Read the full story

Today we remember beloved game show host Alex Trebek, who passed away yesterday after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 80 years old. Image: Alex Trebek / Nestor Cruz, U.S. Air Force Trebek was born on July 22, 1940 in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada to George Edward Trebek and Lucille Lagacé. His father emigrated from the Ukraine as a child and changed his surname from Terebeychuk to Trebek. In 1961, Trebek graduated from the University… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Sally Field! Today the actress turns 74. Image: Sally Field / Wikimedia Commons She was born on November 6, 1946 in Pasadena, California to Richard Dryden Field, an Army officer, and Margaret Field, an actress. After her parents divorced, Field’s mother married stuntman Jock Mahoney. With family already in show business, it was natural for Field to follow suit. She landed her first role as the boy-crazed surfer girl in the sitcom Gidget…. Read the full story

Today we remember legendary star Vivien Leigh, who was born on this day in 1913. Image: Vivien Leigh / Wikimedia Commons Leigh was born Vivian Mary Hartley on November 5, 1913 in Darjeeling, British India. At the age of 19, she married her first husband, Herbert Leigh Holman, and took her husband’s middle name for her stage name, Vivien Leigh. She changed the spelling of her first name because she felt spelling her name with an “e” was… Read the full story

America’s Cowboy Philosopher Will Rogers was born on this day in 1879. Known for his homespun humor and social commentary, Rogers was one of the most popular and highest paid stars throughout the 1930s. Image: Will Rogers / Library of Congress He was born William Penn Adair Rogers on November 4, 1879 on his parents’ Dog Iron Ranch in Cherokee Nation of Indian Territory near what is today Oologah, Oklahoma. His parents both had Cherokee… Read the full story

On this day in 1735, the second President of the United States, John Adams, was born. A Founding Father, Adams served as the first Vice President to President George Washington before he was elected into office himself as the second President of the United States. Image: John Adams / Wikimedia Commons Adams was born in Braintree, Massachusetts to John Adams, Sr., a farmer and minister, and Susanna Boylston, an American socialite from a prominent Massachusetts family. The… Read the full story

On October 29, 1891, original “Funny Girl” Fanny Brice was born in New York City. Brice is considered to be one of America’s first female comedy superstars. Image: Fanny Brice / Library of Congress The third of four children born to Rose Stern and Charles Borach, Brice began performing at a young age. Born Fania Borach, she used the stage name Fanny Brice to avoid being typecast in Jewish roles. A gifted singer and comedian,… Read the full story

Today marks the 106th birthday of Dr. Jonas Salk, who developed the first successful polio vaccine. Image: Jonas Salk / San Diego Air and Space Museum Archive Jonas Edward Salk was born on October 28, 1914 in New York City to Ashkenazi Jewish immigrants. An intellectually gifted child, Salk was encouraged by his parents to pursue his education. He earned his degree in medicine from New York University, where he determined he did not want to practice… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Ryan Reynolds! Today the star turns 44. Image: Ryan Reynolds / Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) Reynolds was born on October 23, 1976 in Vancouver, British Columbia to James Chester Reynolds and Tamara Lee Stewart. His paternal grandfather, Chester Reynolds, was a politician and served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. The youngest of four boys, Reynolds landed his first acting role at the age of 12… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Jeff Goldblum! Today the actor turns 68. Goldblum was born on October 22, 1952 in West Homestead, Pennsylvania to Jewish parents, Shirley Jane Temeles, a radio broadcaster, and Harold Leonard Goldblum, a doctor and major in the U.S. Army during World War II. From a young age, Goldblum wanted to become an actor and at 17, went to New York City to study under renowned acting coach Sanford Meisner. Image: Jeff Goldblum… Read the full story

Today we remember singer and songwriter Tom Petty on what would have been his 70th birthday. The lead vocalist and guitarist of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Petty is considered to be one of the best selling music artists of all time. Image: Tom Petty / Takahiro Kyono, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) Petty was born on October 20, 1950 in Gainesville, Florida to Earl Petty, a traveling salesman, and Katherine Avery, a local tax… Read the full story

Happy birthday to John Lithgow! Today the actor turns 75. Lithgow was born on October 19, 1945 in Rochester, New York to Sarah Jane Price and Arthur Washington Lithgow, III. Image: John Lithgow / David Shankbone, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) He was born into a theatrical family, his mother was an actress and his father was a theatrical producer and director. Due to his father’s job, the family moved frequently during Lithgow’s childhood. Fun… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Angela Lansbury! Today she turns 95. Image: Angela Lansbury / Eva Rinaldi, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) The Murder, She Wrote actress was born in London, England on October 16, 1925 to Edgar Lansbury, a politician, and stage and film actress Moyna Macgill. When she was nine, her father died from stomach cancer. She has stated that his death was a defining moment of her life. At the onset of the Blitz in 1940, her… Read the full story

On this day in 1951, the classic television show I Love Lucy premiered for the first time on CBS. The beloved sitcom starred real-life couple Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz as Lucy and Ricky Ricardo and William Frawley and Vivian Vance as the Ricardo’s best friends and neighbors, Fred and Ethel Mertz. Image: Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz / Wikimedia Commons Originally, executives pursued Ball to adapt her popular radio series, My Favorite Husband, for television. She… Read the full story

On this day in 1890, Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th President of the United States, was born. Image: Dwight D. Eisenhower / Library of Congress Eisenhower was born on October 14, 1890 in Denison, Texas to David Jacob Eisenhower and Ida Elizabeth Stover. The third of seven sons, Eisenhower grew up in Abilene, Kansas and formed a great fondness for the outdoors. An excellent athlete, Eisenhower excelled at sports in high school and received an… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Matt Damon! Today the actor turns 50. Image: Matt Damon / Nicolas Genin, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) Damon was born on October 8, 1970 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He is the second son of Kent Telfer Damon, a stockbroker, and Nancy Carlsson-Paige, a professor in early childhood education. Through his mother’s branch of the family, Damon has Swedish and Finnish roots. His mother’s family surname was changed from “Pajari” to “Paige.” In… Read the full story

Today we remember rock legend Eddie Van Halen, who passed away yesterday at the age of 65. Image: Eddie Van Halen / photo by Alan Light, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) He was born Edward Lodewijk van Halen on January 26, 1955 in Amsterdam, Netherlands to Jan van Halen and Eugenia van Beers. His father was a musician and played the clarinet and saxophone. His mother was born in Indonesia and met his father while… Read the full story

“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi On this day in 1869, Mahatma Gandhi was born. Known as “the father of the nation,” Gandhi led India to independence from British rule through nonviolent civil protest. His leadership would inspire movements for civil rights and freedom through non-violent disobedience all around the world. Image: Mahatma Gandhi / Nationaal Archief, Wikimedia Commons He was born Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi to a… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Julie Andrews! Today the actress turns 85. Image: Julie Andrews / Eva Rinaldi, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) The Sound of Music star was born Julia Elizabeth Wells on October 1, 1935 in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England. Her mother and stepfather were both performers and as a child, she occasionally joined them on stage. She later adopted her stepfather’s surname, Andrews. After finding work on the London stage, Andrews moved to the U.S. In 1956,… Read the full story

On this day in 1924, author Truman Capote was born. Image: Truman Capote / Library of Congress Capote was born Truman Streckfus Persons on September 30, 1924 in New Orleans, Louisiana. When he was four years old, his parents divorced and he was sent to live with his mother’s relatives in Monroeville, Alabama. A lonely child, Capote spent much of his time reading and writing. He became best friends with his neighbor and future author… Read the full story

Today we remember actor Christopher Reeve on what would have been his 68th birthday. Image: Christopher Reeve / Jbfrankel, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) Reeve was born on September 25, 1952 in New York City, New York to Barbara Pitney Lamb, a journalist, and Franklin D’Olier Reeve, a teacher and poet. Through his mother’s branch of the family, Reeve was a direct descendant of Mayflower passenger William Bradford, who served as Governor of the Plymouth… Read the full story

Beloved Muppet creator Jim Henson was born on this day in 1936. Today we remember him on what would have been his 84th birthday. Image: Jim Henson / Library of Congress Henson was born on September 24, 1936 in Greenville, Mississippi to Paul Ransom Henson and Betty Brown. He had a close relationship with his maternal grandmother, who was an avid painter, quilter, and needleworker. She encouraged Henson’s artistic passions and creativity. Henson rose to… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Bruce Springsteen! Today the Boss turns 71. Image: Bruce Springsteen / Takahiro Kyono, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) Springsteen was born on September 23, 1949 in Long Beach, New Jersey to Douglas Frederick Springsteen and Adele Zerilli. He was raised in a working class household. His father worked various jobs from bus driver to mill worker while his mother worked as a legal secretary. Springsteen fell in love with rock and roll… Read the full story

On this day in 1791, English physicist and chemist Michael Faraday was born. Considered one of the greatest scientists in history, Faraday’s work significantly contributed to the understanding of electromagnetism. Faraday was born on September 22, 1791 in Newington, Surrey, England to James Faraday, a blacksmith, and Margaret Hastwell. While growing up, his father was often ill and incapable of maintaining steady work. As a result, the family struggled to put food on the table…. Read the full story

Today we celebrate the life of Hollywood icon Greta Garbo, who was born on this day 115 years ago. Image: Greta Garbo / Library of Congress Greta Lovisa Gustafsson was born in Stockholm, Sweden on September 18, 1905 to Anna Lovisa and Karl Alfred Gustafsson. The youngest of three children, Garbo dropped out of school at the age of 13 to care for her ailing father. He would die in 1920 when she was 14…. Read the full story

On September 17, 1923, country music’s first superstar Hank Williams was born in Butler County, Alabama. Best known for his hits “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” “Hey, Good Lookin’,” and “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” Williams is regarded as one of the most important country music artists of all time. Image: Hank Williams / Wikimedia Commons He was born Hiram Williams in Mount Olive, Alabama to Elonzo Huble Williams and Jessie Lillybelle Skipper. Born with spina… Read the full story

Today Mexico celebrates Independence Day! On this day in 1810, Catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla issued the Cry of Dolores, a call to end Spanish rule in Mexico, triggering the start of the Mexican War of Independence. Image: Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla / Library of Congress As the parish priest in Dolores, Guanajuato, Mexico, Hidalgo promoted economic activities, such as introducing new methods of agriculture, to help the poor and rural members of the… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Prince Harry! Today the Duke of Sussex turns 36. Image: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex / Wikimedia Commons Harry was born on September 15, 1984 at St. Mary’s Hospital in London, England. He was baptized Henry Charles Albert David at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. The second son of Charles, Prince of Wales and Princess Diana, Harry is currently sixth in the line of succession to the British throne. Harry was… Read the full story

Today we remember legendary actress and Princess of Monaco Grace Kelly, who passed away on this day in 1982 at the age of 52. Image: Grace Kelly / Wikimedia Commons Kelly was born on November 12, 1929 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to John B. Kelly, a three-time Olympic gold medalist for sculling, and Margaret Katherine Majer, a physical education teacher and first coach of women’s teams at the University of Pennsylvania. Despite her parents’ disapproval, Kelly… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Harry Connick, Jr.! Today the singer turns 53. Image: Harry Connick, Jr. / bg_nh2014, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) Joseph Harry Fowler Connick, Jr. was born on September 11, 1967 in New Orleans, Louisiana. From an early age, Connick exhibited a talent for music. He learned the piano at the age of 3 and began performing publicly by the age of 5. He learned to develop his talents under the tutelage of… Read the full story

Today we remember English actress Diana Rigg, who has passed away at the age of 82. Best known as secret agent Emma Peel in the classic 1960s television series The Avengers, Rigg had found a new generation of fans as Lady Olenna Tyrell in the HBO fantasy drama, Game of Thrones. Image: Diana Rigg / Wikimedia Commons Rigg was born on July 20, 1938 in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England to Louis Rigg, a railway engineer,… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Beyoncé! Today the music superstar celebrates her 39th birthday. Image: Beyoncé Knowles / Wikimedia Commons Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Beyoncé first catapulted to music stardom in the female R&B group Destiny’s Child. Since launching her own solo career, she has become one of the top selling female performers of all time with over 100 million records sold worldwide. Beyoncé is also the most nominated female artist in Grammy history, with… Read the full story

On this day in 1189, Richard I of England was crowned king in Westminster Abbey. Image: Richard I of England / Wikimedia Commons Born on September 8, 1157, Richard was the third of five sons born to King Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine. He was known as Richard the Lionheart for his reputation as a great military leader and warrior. During his reign, Richard spent the majority of his time outside of England…. Read the full story

On this day in 1948, high school teacher Christa McAuliffe was born in Boston, Massachusetts. McAuliffe made history when she became the first American civilian to be selected to go into space. Sadly, she died in the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger in 1986. Image: Christa McAuliffe / NASA In 1985, McAuliffe was selected to participate in the NASA Teacher in Space Project and become the first teacher to go to space. The purpose of the program was… Read the full story

After 72 years on the throne, King Louis XIV of France died on this day in 1715, just four days before his 77th birthday. Image: Louis XIV / Wikimedia Commons Louis XIV was born on September 5, 1638 to Louis XIII and Anne of Austria. Before his birth, his mother had experienced four stillbirths, and so he was named Louis Dieudonné, which was French for “Gift of God.” When he was four, Louis’s father passed away, leaving the… Read the full story

On this day in 1749, German writer, poet, and statesman Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was born. He was born in Frankfurt, which was then an Imperial Free City of the Holy Roman Empire. Goethe’s father, Johann Caspar Goethe, was the son of a wealthy tailor and owner of one of the most distinguished guesthouses in Frankfurt. His mother, Katharina Elizabeth Textor, was the daughter of a prominent citizen of Frankfurt. Considered one of the greatest German… Read the full story