Author: Amanda

French monarch Louis XIV died on this day in 1715, just 4 days before his 77th birthday. Image: Louis XIV / National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, CC0 When he was born on September 5, 1638 in the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Louis’s parents had already been married for 23 years. His mother had experienced 4 stillbirths throughout the marriage, and so, when Louis was born, his birth was seen as a miracle and gift from God. He… Read the full story

On this day in 1880, Wilhelmina of the Netherlands was born. She reigned as Queen of the Netherlands for nearly 58 years, longer than any other Dutch monarch. Image: Wilhelmina of the Netherlands / Library of Congress Wilhelmina was born on August 31, 1880 in Noordeinde Palace in The Hague, Netherlands. She was the only child of King William III and his second wife, Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont. At the time of her birth,… Read the full story

On this day in 1797, English novelist Mary Shelley was born. Today, Shelley is best remembered as the author of the Gothic novel Frankenstein, which is often considered to be one of the earliest examples of science fiction. Image: Mary Shelley / Wikimedia Commons Shelley was born Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin on August 30, 1797 in London, England to William Godwin, a radical political philosopher, and Mary Wollstonecraft, a philosopher and feminist. Her mother died just eleven days after her birth of childbed… Read the full story

Do you have German ancestry? On this day in 1749, German writer, poet and statesman Johann Wolfgang von Goeth was born in Frankfurt, then an Imperial Free City of the Holy Roman Empire. Image: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe / Library of Congress A literary celebrity by the age of 25, Goethe’s works are considered the beginning of the Sturm und Drang movement in German Romantic literature. His is perhaps best remembered for his two-part poetic drama Faust, which… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Robert Redford! Today the actor turns 87. Image: Robert Redford / San Diego Air and Space Museum Archive, Flickr Charles Robert Redford, Jr. was born on August 18, 1936 in Santa Monica, California to Charles Robert Redford, Sr. and Martha Hart. Redford began his career on the stage and television before launching to stardom in the Paul Newman film, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Since then, he has starred in many blockbuster… Read the full story

American frontiersman and folk hero Davy Crockett was born on this day in 1786. During his lifetime and even after his death, many of his adventures and exploits were immortalized in larger-than-life stories and almanacs, making him one of the most well known figures in American history. Image: Davy Crockett / National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, CC0 Crockett was born on August 17, 1786 in what is now Greene County, Tennessee. His father, John Crockett, was… Read the full story

Are you a baseball fan? Today we remember legendary baseball player Babe Ruth, who died on this day in 1948. Image: Babe Ruth / Library of Congress He was born George Herman Ruth, Jr. on February 6, 1895 in Baltimore Maryland. He was one of eight children born to Catherine Schamberger and George Herman Ruth, Sr., a saloon owner. As a child, Ruth often found trouble and by the age of 7, his parents sent him… Read the full story

On this day in 1769, French Emperor Napoleon I, also known as Napoleon Bonaparte, was born. Considered one of the greatest military strategists in history, Napoleon established hegemony over most of continental Europe. Image: Napoleon I / Wikimedia Commons Napoleon was born on August 15, 1769 to Carlo Maria Buonaparte and Maria Letizia Romolino in his family’s ancestral home, Casa Buonaparte, in the French town of Ajaccio. He gained military and political prominence during the latter stages… Read the full story

On this day in 1919, American industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie died at the age of 83. A titan of the American steel industry in the late 19th century, Carnegie devoted his last years of his life to large-scale philanthropy, directing much of his wealth towards public libraries and education. Image: Andrew Carnegie / Library of Congress Carnegie was born on November 25, 1835 in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland in a one room cottage. At the age… Read the full story

On this day in 1866, Arctic explorer Matthew Henson was born. He is best remembered for being the first to reach the North Pole alongside explorer Robert E. Peary in 1909. Image: Matthew Henson / Library of Congress Henson was born on August 8, 1866 on a farm in Charles County, Maryland. His parents were sharecroppers and free people of color before the Civil War. An orphan by the age of 12, Henson joined a merchant… Read the full story

On this day in 1770, explorer William Clark was born in Caroline County, Virginia. From 1804 to 1806, Clark helped lead the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition across the country to the Pacific Ocean. Image: William Clark / Wikimedia Commons Clark was the ninth of ten children born to John Clark and Ann Rogers. Five of his older brothers fought during the American Revolution, including his second-oldest brother, George Rogers Clark, who rose to the… Read the full story

Today we remember Bob Hope, who passed away on this day in 2003 at the age of 100. A comedy legend, Hope entertained audiences all around the world in almost every entertainment medium, from vaudeville and Broadway, to radio, television, and film. Image: Bob Hope / State Library of New South Wales, Flickr He was born Leslie Townse Hope on May 29, 1903 in Eltham, near London, England. He was the fifth of seven sons born… Read the full story

Remember reading Brave New World? On this day in 1894, author Aldous Huxley was born. Image: Aldous Huxley / Archivo Historico Sinaloa, Flickr Huxley was the third son of Leonard Huxley, a writer and school master, and Julia Arnold, founder of Prior’s Field School. The Huxley family was a prominent and well-educated family in Britian. Huxley’s paternal grandfather, Thomas Henry Huxley, was a biologist and specialist in comparative anatomy. He was instrumental in developing scientific education in Britain and became… Read the full story

Today we remember singer Tony Bennett, who has passed away at the age of 96. Image: Tony Bennett / Nationaal Archief, CC0 Bennett was born Anthony Dominick Benedetto on August 3, 1926 to John Benedetto and Anna Suraci, who were first cousins. His father was from Calabria, in Southern Italy, and immigrated to the United States in 1906. His mother was born in the U.S.; her family had emigrated from the Calabria region in 1899…. Read the full story

Who are the adventurers in your family tree? On this day in 1919, explorer and mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary was born in Auckland, New Zealand. Image: Sir Edmund Hillary / Wikimedia Commons Before gaining fame as a mountaineer, Hillary worked as a beekeeper like his father before him. He joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force during World War II, but was badly burned during a boat accident. After the war, he decided to pursue his love… Read the full story

On this day in 1834, French painter and sculptor Edgar Degas was born. Degas is often regarded as one of the founders of Impressionism. Image: Edgar Degas / Wikimedia Commons Degas was born in Paris, France to a moderately wealthy family. His father, Augustine De Gas, was a banker, and his mother, Célestine Musson, was from New Orleans, Louisiana and came from a prominent Creole family. Through his mother, Degas was a first cousin once removed to inventor Norbert… Read the full story

At a recent press conference for her latest film Golda, Helen Mirren was presented with a surprising discovery from the researchers at MyHeritage – she is in fact distantly related to Golda Meir, the former Israeli Prime Minister! In the film, Mirren stars as the iconic politician and follows the enormous responsibilities and decisions Meir faced during the Yom Kippur War. The film is set to premier at the opening of the 40th Jerusalem Film… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Harrison Ford! Today the actor turns 81. Image: Harrison Ford / Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) Ford was born on July 13, 1942 in Chicago, Illinois to John William “Christopher” Ford, an advertising executive and former actor, and Dorothy Nidelman, a radio actress. In college, Ford discovered a fascination for acting and moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as an actor. However, frustrated with his lack of success,… Read the full story

Did your family own a Kodak camera? On this day in 1854, inventor George Eastman was born in Waterville, New York. Image: George Eastman / Library of Congress He was the youngest child of George Washington Eastman and Maria Kilbourn. After the death of his father in 1862 and the death of his older sister in 1870, a 16 year old Eastman left school to start working to help support his family. In 1888, he received a… Read the full story

On this day in 1767, John Quincy Adams, the sixth President of the United States, was born. Image: John Quincy Adams / Library of Congress Adams was born in Braintree, Massachusetts on July 11, 1767. He was the eldest son of the second U.S. President, John Adams, and his wife, Abigail, and was named after his mother’s maternal grandfather, Colonel John Quincy. As a young boy, Adams witnessed the Battle of Bunker Hill from a hill… Read the full story

On this day in 1861, geneticist Nettie Stevens was born. The pioneering geneticist changed the way the world looked at the human chromosome. Stevens is recognized as the first researcher to discover that sex is determined by X and Y chromosomes. Image: Nettie Stevens / Wikimedia Commons She was born on July 7, 1861 in Cavendish, Vermont. A brilliant student, Stevens graduated at the top of her class and studied at Stanford University, before obtaining her Ph.D at… Read the full story

On this day in 1907, Mexican artist Frida Kahlo was born. Known for her many self-portraits, Kahlo is often regarded as one of Mexico’s greatest artists. Image: Frida Kahlo / Library of Congress Kahlo was born on July 6, 1907 in Coyoacán, Mexico in her family home known as La Casa Azule (The Blue House). She would spend much of her childhood and adult life in the home. Her father, Willhelm “Guillermo” Kahlo, was a… Read the full story

On this day in 1810, showman P.T. Barnum was born. Known for founding the famous “Barnum & Bailey Circus,” Barnum found huge success with his strange menagerie of performers. Image: P.T. Barnum / Library of Congress He was born Phineas Taylor Barnum in Bethel, Connecticut to Philo Barnum, an innkeeper and tailor, and Irene Taylor. Barnum showed a gift for selling at an early age, peddling cherry rum to innkeepers by the age of 12…. Read the full story

Today we remember actor Alan Arkin, who passed away yesterday at the age of 89. Image: Alan Arkin / Gordon Correll, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) Arkin was born on March 26, 1934 in Brooklyn, New York to David Arkin, a painter and writer, and Beatrice Wortis, a teacher. Since he was a child, Arkin knew he wanted to be a performer. He began taking acting classes at the age of 10 and after dropping… Read the full story

On this day in 1861, English poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning died at the age of 55. Remembered as one of the most popular poets of the Victorian Era, Elizabeth was very well known during her lifetime in Europe and America. Image: Elizabeth Barrett Browning / Library of Congress The eldest of twelve children, Elizabeth Barrett Moulton-Barrett was born on March 6, 1806 in Coxhoe Hall in County Durham, England. Her father’s family had acquired their wealth in… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Kathy Bates! Today the star turns 75. Image: Kathy Bates / Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) She was born Kathleen Doyle Bates on June 28, 1948 in Memphis, Tennessee. She is the youngest of three daughters born to Langdon Doyle Bates and Bertye Kathleen Talbert. Her paternal grandfather, Finis L. Bates, was a lawyer and the author of The Escape and Suicide of John Wilkes Booth. In the book, he… Read the full story

On June 27, 1880, Helen Keller was born in Tuscumbia, Alabama. Image: Helen Keller / Library of Congress At just 18 months old, Keller contracted an illness that left her blind and deaf. During the early years of her childhood, Keller had very limited methods of communication and became very unruly. Her mother hired Anne Sullivan to help teach Keller. Sullivan began to teach Keller words by drawing the letters into her hands. After a… Read the full story

How are you related to royalty? On this day in 1830, George IV died at the age of 67. Image: George IV / Wikimedia Commons, Rijksmuseum Born on August 12, 1762, George was the eldest son of King George III and Queen Charlotte. In 1810, he became regent as his father’s health and mental stability deteriorated. He ascended to the throne in 1820 after his father’s death. Known for his extravagant, indulgent lifestyle and heavy drinking, George… Read the full story

On June 21, 1982, William, Prince of Wales, was born. Image: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge / USAID,Vietnam William was born in St. Mary’s Hospital in London during the reign of his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II. He is the eldest child of King Charles III and Diana, Princess of Wales and the heir apparent to the British throne. Sadly, at the age of 15, William lost his mother in a horrific car crash in Paris,… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Lionel Richie! Today the singer and songwriter turns 74. Image: Lionel Richie / U.S. State Department Photo, Public Domain He was born Lionel Brockman Richie on June 20, 1949 in Tuskegee, Alabama. He grew up at the Tuskegee Institute, where two generations of his family worked. After first gaining popularity as one of the founding members of the Commodores, Richie branched out on his own and established a highly successful solo career…. Read the full story

Today we remember Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg, who was born on this day in 1843. Considered one of the leading Norwegian composers of the Romantic Era, Grieg successfully brought the music of Norway to international audiences. Image: Edvard Grieg / Bergen Public Library Norway, Flickr Grieg was born on June 15, 1843 in Bergen, Norway to Alexander Greig, a merchant and vice-consul in Bergen, and Gesine Judithe Hagerup, a music teacher. Grieg grew up in a… Read the full story

Remember reading Uncle Tom’s Cabin? On this day in 1811, abolitionist and author Harriet Beecher Stowe was born in Litchfield, Connecticut. Image: Harriet Beecher Stowe / U.S. National Archives and Records Administration Stowe was the seventh of thirteen children born to Lyman Beecher, a Calvinist preacher, and Roxana Foote, who died when Stowe as just five years old. Her great grandfather, Andrew Ward V, was a general in the American Revolutionary War. Growing up, Stowe received… Read the full story

Image: William Butler Yeats / Library of Congress Have you read the poems by William Butler Yeats? On June 13, 1865, the Irish poet was born in Dublin, Ireland to John and Susan Yeats. Considered one of the foremost figures of 20th century literature, Yeats writings were a  driving force behind the Irish Literary Revival. In 1923, he became the first Irishman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in Literature. Aware of the significance,… Read the full story

Architect Frank Lloyd Wright was born on this day in 1867 in the farming town of Richland Center, Wisconsin. Considered one of the greatest architects in history, Wright has designed some of the most iconic buildings in the world. Image: Frank Lloyd Wright / Library of Congress He was born Franklin Lincoln Wright on June 8, 1867 to William Cary Wright, a music teacher and minister, and Anna Lloyd Jones, a country school teacher. He was… Read the full story

On this day in 1917, singer and actor Dean Martin was born in Steubenville, Ohio. Image: Dean Martin / Wikimedia Commons He was born Dino Paul Crocetti to Gaetano Alfonso Crocetti and Angela Barra. At home, Martin first learned to speak Italian and didn’t learn to speak English until he first went to school at the age of 5. After dropping out of high school, Martin bootlegged liquor, served as a speakeasy croupier, worked as a blackjack… Read the full story

On this day in 1840, Victorian poet and novelist Thomas Hardy was born in Dorset, England. Considered one of the most renowned writers in the history of English literature, Hardy’s works were often critical of Victorian society and the decline of rural life. Image: Thomas Hardy / National Science and Media Museum, Flickr Hardy was the eldest of four children born to Thomas Hardy, a stonemason and local builder, and his wife, Jemima Hand. His early… Read the full story

Today we remember Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe on what would have been her 97th birthday. Image: Marilyn Monroe / Wikimedia Commons She was born Norma Jean Mortenson on June 1, 1926 in Los Angeles, California to Gladys Pearl Baker. Shortly after her birth, her name was changed to Baker. Her father’s identity remains unknown. Marilyn’s mother suffered from mental illness and spent much of her life in and out of hospitals. Growing up, Marilyn lived with… Read the full story

On this day in 1951, astronaut Sally Ride was born. In 1983, Ride made history when she became the first American woman to fly in space. Image: Sally Ride / NASA Ride as born on May 26, 1951 in Encino, California to Dale Burdell Ride and Carol Joyce Anderson. Her father was a political science professor and her mother was a counselor at a women’s correctional facility. As a child, she was always fascinated by… Read the full story

Come see Geni at the National Genealogical Society 2023 Family History Conference in Richmond, Virginia. The conference will take place May 31 – June 3 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. Geni is excited to once again be a Silver sponsor of the conference. If you are planning to attend, be sure to stop by the Geni booth (304, 306) in the exhibit hall and learn about what’s new on Geni. We’re excited to see… Read the full story

“What hath God wrought?” This was the message Samuel F.B. Morse sent from the Old Supreme Court Chamber in the United States Capital to his assistant, Alfred Vail, in Baltimore, Maryland, to inaugurate the first telegraph line on May 24, 1844. Image: Library of Congress Morse was born on April 27, 1791 in Charlestown, Massachusetts to Jedediah Morse, a pastor and geographer, and Elizabeth Ann Finley Breese. Morse had established a career as a painter when a… Read the full story

Sherlock Holmes author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was born on this day in 1859. Image: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle / Library of Congress Doyle was born in Edinburgh, Scotland to Charles Altamont Doyle and Mary Foley. Supported by wealthy uncles, Doyle studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh. It was during this time that he began writing short stories. In 1887, he published his first Sherlock Holmes story. Doyle partially based the character of Holmes on… Read the full story

On this day in 1953, pioneering aviator Jacqueline Cochran became the first woman to break the sound barrier. Image: Jacqueline Cochran / San Diego Air and Space Museum Archive, Flickr Cochran was born Bessie Lee Pittman on May 11, 1906 to Ira Pittman and Mary Grant. After divorcing her first husband, Robert Cochran, she began using the name Jacqueline or “Jackie.” Cochran moved to New York where she landed a position at the prestigious Saks Fifth… Read the full story

Do you remember watching Tarzan? On this day in 1911, Irish actress Maureen O’Sullivan was born. Often considered Ireland’s first film star, O’Sullivan is perhaps best remembered for her portrayal of Jane in six Tarzan films. Image: Maureen O’Sullivan / Wikimedia Commons O’Sullivan was born on May 17, 1911 in Boyle, Roscommon, Ireland to Mary Eva Frazer and Charles Joseph O’Sullivan, who was an officer in the Connaught Rangers and served in World War I. Growing up, she went to school in Dublin… Read the full story

Did you know that the first Academy Awards ceremony was held on May 16, 1929? The ceremony’s first host was none other than the Academy’s first president, actor Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. Image: Douglas Fairbanks / Library of Congress Long before it would become Hollywood’s biggest night, the first Academy Awards were handed out at a dinner party for around 270 guests at the Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles, California. The ceremony lasted just 15 minutes… Read the full story

Happy International Nurses Day! Today honors nurses all around the world on the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth. Image: Florence Nightingale / Library of Congress Florence Nightingale was born on May 12, 1820 in Florence, Italy to a rich, upper-class British family. From a young age, she felt it was her calling from God to devote her life to the service of others. Despite her family’s strong objects, Nightingale worked hard to educate herself in nursing…. Read the full story

On this day in 1904, surrealist painter Salvador Dalí was born in Figueres, Spain. Image: Salvador Dali / Library of Congress Salvador Felipe Jacinto Dalí i Domènech was born nine months after the death of his older brother, who was also named Salvador. At the age of five, his parents took him to his brothers grave where they told him that he was his brother’s reincarnation. He would come to believe it to be true… Read the full story

Legendary actor Fred Astaire was born on May 10, 1899 in Omaha, Nebraska. Considered one of the greatest entertainers of Old Hollywood, Astaire dazzled audiences on the stage and screen with his charisma and energy. Image: Fred Astaire / Wikimedia Commons He was the son of Johanna Geilus and Frederic Austerlitz and had an older sister Adele, who proved to a natural dancer and singer. Together, the siblings developed a vaudeville act as children and became quite… Read the full story

We’re excited to share some new enhancements to the family map on Geni. For many years, we’ve had the family map to show you where your relatives are located around the world. Now we’ve made a few improvements that will help you better visualize the locations of your relatives on Geni. To find the Map, simply click on “Family” at the top of the page and select “Map.” Show Death and Burial Locations Previously, you… Read the full story

Remember the story of Peter Pan? On this day in 1860, author J.M. Barrie was born in Kirriemuir, Angus, Scotland.  Image: National Science and Media Museum, Flickr Barrie was born James Matthew Barrie to David Barrie and Margaret Ogilvy. The ninth of ten children, Barrie was drawn to storytelling as a small child. He first found work as a writer and journalist, but discovered his work in theater increasing as time passed. During his third play, he met… Read the full story

This weekend Charles III will officially be crowned King of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth realms. The coronation will take place on May 6, 2023, which coincidentally falls on the fourth birthday of his grandson, Archie. In preparation of this historic event, here are some interesting facts to know before His Majesty’s coronation. Image: Charles III / Dan Marsh, Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0) 1. Charles was born on November 14, 1948 in Buckingham Palace and… Read the full story