October 2023

We are saddened to hear about the death of actor Matthew Perry on October 28, 2023 at the age of 54. Image: Matthew Perry / National Archives and Records Administration Perry was born Matthew Langford Perry on August 19, 1969 in Williamstown, Massachusetts. His mother, Suzanne Marie Langford, was a Canadian journalist and former press secretary to Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. His father, John Bennett Perry, was an actor. His parents separated when he… Read the full story

On this day in 1858, Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, was born in New York City, New York. Image: Theodore Roosevelt / Library of Congress He was the second of four children born to Theodore Roosevelt, Sr., a glass businessman and philanthropist, and Martha Stewart “Mittie” Bulloch, a socialite and southern belle thought to be one of the inspirations for the character Scarlett O’Hara in Gone With the Wind. Nicknamed “Teedie,” Roosevelt… Read the full story

Are you a fan of The Princess Bride? On this day in 1962, star Cary Elwes was born in Westminster, London, England. Image: Cary Elwes / Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) Elwes was born Ivan Simon Cary Elwes on October 26, 1962 to Dominic Elwes, a portrait painter, and Tessa Kennedy, an interior designer. His paternal grandfather, Simon Elwes, was a prominent portrait painter who counted presidents and members of the British Royal… Read the full story

On this day in 1400, poet Geoffrey Chaucer died in London, England. Known as the Father of English literature, Chaucer is often considered to be the greatest English poet of the Middle Ages. Image: Geoffrey Chaucer / The National Library of Wales, Wikimedia Commons Chaucer was born around 1343 to a family of wine merchants. His father worked as a deputy to the King’s butler and his position helped Chaucer acquire his own positions early in… Read the full story

Do you have any daredevils in your family? On this day in 1901, Annie Edson Taylor became the first person to survive a trip over Niagara Falls in a barrel. She was also celebrating her 63rd birthday. Image: Annie Edson Taylor / Library of Congress Taylor was born on October 24, 1838 in Auburn, New York. She studied to become a school teacher, and at the age of 17, married David Taylor. After her husband died in… Read the full story

Do you remember watching The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson? Today we celebrate what would have been host Johnny Carson’s 98th birthday. Image: Johnny Carson / State Library and Archives of Florida John William Carson was born on October 23, 1925 in Corning, Iowa to Homer Homer Lloyd “Kit” Carson and Ruth Hook. As a child, Carson developed his entertainment skills by performing magic for his family and friends. He called himself “The Great Carsoni” and… Read the full story

Do you like scary movies? On this day in 1882, horror film legend Bela Lugosi was born. Image: Bela Lugosi / Wikimedia Commons He was born Béla Ferenc Dezső Blaskó on October 20, 1882 to Paula de Vojnich and István Blaskó, a banker, in Lugos, Hungary. Around the age of 11, he left home and took on odd jobs to support himself in his travels. It was during this time that he began acting on stage and… Read the full story

Did your ancestors fight in the American Revolutionary War? On this day in 1781, British General Charles Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown, Virginia, effectively bringing an end to the American Revolution. Image: Wikimedia Commons During his early days in the war, Cornwallis had successfully driven George Washington’s troops out of New Jersey. In 1779, Cornwallis became a leading figure in the British “southern strategy” to gain control of the southern colonies. Although Cornwallis had generally been successful in his battles, including… Read the full story

Have you read Moby-Dick? On this day in 1851, Herman Melville’s classic novel was published for the first time in London, England. Image: Herman Melville / Library of Congress Initially published under the title, The Whale, Melville’s signature novel followed the story of a sea captain’s obsessive quest to hunt down the white whale, Moby Dick. Melville drew upon his own experiences working at sea to write the book. While writing the novel, Melville developed a close friendship with… Read the full story

On this day in 1854, Irish writer Oscar Wilde was born. Considered one of London’s most popular playwrights in his day, Wilde was known for his brilliant intellect, quick wit, and flamboyant personality. Image: Oscar Wilde / Library of Congress He was born Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde on October 16, 1854 in Dublin, Ireland. Wilde was the second child born to Sir William Wilde, a prominent surgeon and author, and Jane Wilde, an Irish… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Paul Simon! Today the musician and songwriter turns 82. With a music career that has spanned over six decades, Simon is widely regarded as one of the greatest songwriters in history. Image: Paul Simon / Nationaal Archief, CC0 Paul Frederick Simon was born on October 13, 1941 in Newark, New Jersey. His mother, Belle Schulman, was a elementary school teacher and his father, Louis Simon, was a professional musician and performed on television shows… Read the full story

On this day in 1798, Pedro I of Brazil was born in Lisbon, Portugal. Nicknamed  “the Liberator,” Pedro declared Brazil’s independence from Portugal in 1822 and became the country’s first Emperor. Image: Pedro I of Brazil / Wikimedia Commons Generally known as Dom Pedro, he was the fourth child of King John VI of Portugal and Carlota Joaquina, who was the daughter of King Carlos IV of Spain. When Napoleon conquered Portugal in 1807, the royal family fled to Brazil, Portugal’s… Read the full story

Today we celebrate the birthday of former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt! Image: Eleanor Roosevelt / Library of Congress Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was born on October 11, 1884 to Elliot Roosevelt and Anna Rebecca Hall. Orphaned by the age of 10, Eleanor was raised by her maternal grandmother, Mary Livingston Ludlow. Her family was a part of New York’s high society and she grew up in a world of immense privilege. She was also the niece… Read the full story

Today we remember Norwegian explorer, scientist, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Fridtjof Nansen, who was born on this day in 1861 in Oslo, Norway. Image: Fridtjof Nansen / National Library of Norway, Flickr A champion skier and ice skater in his youth, Nansen had a passion for adventure from a young age. He studied Zoology in school, which enabled him to combine his scientific interests, his athletic abilities, and his sense of adventure in his work. In 1888, Nansen successfully led… Read the full story

Today we remember actress Carole Lombard, who was born on this day in 1908. Image: Carole Lombard / Wikimedia Commons She was born Jane Alice Peters in Fort Wayne, Indiana and was the third child and only daughter of Frederick and Elizabeth Peters. Discovered by a director while playing baseball with friends, Lombard made her first film appearance at the age of 13. She went on to star in more than 20 silent films and… Read the full story

“It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow.” On this day in 1882, rocket pioneer Robert H. Goddard was born in Worcester, Massachusetts. Dubbed the “father of modern rocketry,” Goddard is credited with creating, building, and launching the world’s first liquid-fueled rocket. It was his groundbreaking work that helped make spaceflight possible. Image: Robert H. Goddard / NASA Goddard was the… Read the full story

Silent film star Buster Keaton was born on this day in 1895. Known for his stoic, deadpan expression, Keaton is remembered as one of the greatest comedic performers in the history of cinema. Image: Buster Keaton / Library of Congress Keaton was born Joseph Frank Keaton, VI on October 4, 1895 in Piqua, Kansas. His parents, Joseph “Joe” Keaton and Myra Cutler, were vaudeville performers and traveled together performing various medicine and vaudeville shows. His… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Gwen Stefani! Today the singer and The Voice coach turns 54. Image: Gwen Stefani / Liton Ali, Wikimedia Commons, cropped (CC BY 2.0) Stefani was born on October 3, 1969 in Fullerton, California. As a teen, she joined her brother, Eric, in forming the band No Doubt. Her brother eventually left the band to pursue a career in animation working on The Simpsons. It wasn’t until the release of their third album in 1995 that the band would… Read the full story

Today we remember Mahatma Gandhi, who was born on this day in 1869. Regarded as “the father of the nation” in India, Gandhi led the country to independence from British rule through nonviolent civil disobedience. His actions would help inspire civil rights movements all across the globe. Image: Mahatma Gandhi / Nationaal Archief, Wikimedia Commons CC0 He was born Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi on October 2, 1869 to a Hindu merchant caste family. He studied law in London and spent 21 years in… Read the full story