2024

Happy birthday to Lionel Richie! Today the singer turns 75. Image: Lionel Richie / Photo by Shawn Miller, Library of Congress, Public domain He was born Lionel Brockman Richie, Jr. on June 20, 1949 in Tuskegee, Alabama to Alberta Foster and Lionel Brockman Richie, Sr. He grew up close to the the campus of the Tuskegee Institute, which was founded by Booker T. Washington. Two generations of his family have worked at the institution, including… Read the full story

Are you a baseball fan? On this day in 1903, baseball legend Lou Gehrig was born in Yorkville, New York. Image: Lou Gehrig / Library of Congress Henry Louis Gehrig was the second of four children born to German immigrant parents. The only child to survive infancy, Gehrig grew up in poverty but showed an aptitude for academics and sports. He attended Columbia University on a football scholarship and studied engineering. In 1923, Gehrig signed with the… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Paul McCartney! Today the legendary musician turns 82. Image: Paul McCartney / Nationaal Archief CC0, Wikimedia Commons McCartney was born on June 18, 1942 in Liverpool, England to James McCartney and Mary Mohin. Music was always a part of McCartney’s life growing up. His father was a trumpet player and pianist and encouraged his son’s pursuit of music. When he was 14, his mother died of an embolism shortly after surgery for… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Barry Manilow! Today the singer-songwriter turns 81. Image: Barry Manilow / Alan Light, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) Manilow was born Barry Alan Pincus on June 17, 1943 in Brooklyn New York to Harold Pincus and Edna Manilow. His father left the family when he was two and he eventually adopted his mother’s maiden name as his last name. He began his career working as a commercial jingle writer, penning memorable jingles… Read the full story

On this day in 1811, American writer and abolitionist Harriet Beecher Stowe was born in Litchfield, Connecticut. Image: Harriet Beecher Stowe / U.S. National Archives and Records Administration She was the seventh of thirteen children born to Lyman Beecher, a Calvinist preacher, and Roxana Foote. The Beecher family was a prominent New England family known for their involvement in political issues regarding religion, civil rights and social reform. Her great grandfather, General Andrew Ward V,… Read the full story

Do you have Irish ancestors? On this day in 1865, Irish poet W.B. Yeats was born in Dublin, Ireland. Image: W.B. Yeats / Library of Congress William Butler Yeats was the son of John Butler Yeats, a lawyer and portrait painter, and Susan Mary Pollexfen, whose wealthy merchant family owned a milling and shipping business. His father was not the only artist of the family. His brother Jack became a well-known artist and Olympic medalist, while… Read the full story

Today we remember Anne Frank on what would have been her 95th birthday. Image: Anne Frank / Wikimedia Commons It was 82 years ago today that Anne received her famous diary as a gift for her 13th birthday. Her father had given it to her after she had pointed it out in a store window days before. The red checkered autograph book had a small lock on the front, so Anne decided to use it… Read the full story

Do you remember watching Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory? On this day in 1933, actor Gene Wilder was born. Image: Gene Wilder / Nationaal Archief, CC0 Wilder was born Jerome Silberman on June 11, 1933 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He first gained an interest in acting after his mother was diagnosed with rheumatic fever. The doctor had told the 8-year-old Wilder that he should try to make his mother laugh. By the age of 13, he began studying acting… Read the full story

Today we remember Judy Garland on what would have been her 102nd birthday. A star by the age of 16, Garland is remembered as one of the greatest performers in film history. Image: Judy Garland / Wikimedia Commons She was born Frances Ethel Gumm on June 10, 1922 to Ethel Marion and Frances Avent Gumm in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. The daughter of vaudeville performers, Garland had a knack for song and dance and made her… Read the full story

Today we remember Prince on what would have been his 66th birthday. Image: Prince / Scott Penner, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) Prince Rogers Nelson was born on June 7, 1958 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to John Lewis Nelson, a jazz musician, and Mattie Della Shaw. He was named after his father, who used the stage name Prince Rogers while performing with his jazz group, the Prince Rogers Trio. With music a big part of his… Read the full story

Do you have Spanish ancestry? On this day in 1599, Spanish painter Diego Velázquez was born in Seville, Spain. Image: Diego Velázquez / Wikimedia Commons The first child of João Rodrigues da Silva and Jerónima Velázquez, Velázquez showed a gift for art at a young age. At the age of 12, he began a six-year apprenticeship with painter Francisco Pacheco. He would later marry Pacheco’s daughter, Juana, and have two daughters. Remembered as one of the most important… Read the full story

Today we remember Robert F. Kennedy on the anniversary of his assassination. After winning the California presidential primary, Kennedy was shot at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles shortly after midnight on June 5, 1968. He would succumb to his wounds the following day. Image: Library of Congress Kennedy was the seventh child born to Joseph Kennedy, Sr. And Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. During his brother’s presidency, Kennedy served as the Attorney General of the United States… Read the full story

On this day in 1738, King George III was born. He ruled for over 59 years until his death in 1820. Image: King George III / Library of Congress Born two months prematurely, George was not expected to survive. He was the eldest son born to Frederick, Prince of Wales, and Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha. When his father unexpectedly died in 1751, the young George became the heir apparent to the throne. Nine years later in 1760,… Read the full story

Have you found your connection to the British royal family? On this day in 1865, George V was born in Marlborough House, London. Image: George V / Library of Congress The grandson of Queen Victoria and the second son of Prince and Princess of Wales, Albert Edward and Alexandra, George was not expected to be king. In 1892, his older brother, Prince Albert Victor, died of pneumonia just six weeks after announcing his engagement to… Read the full story

Today marks the 205th birthday of American poet Walt Whitman! Considered to be one of the most influential poets in American literature, Whitman is often called the “father of free verse.” Image: Walt Whitman /  Library of Congress Whitman was born on May 31, 1819 in West Hills, New York and was the second of nine children. By the age of 11, he had left school and began working to help support his family. He learned… Read the full story

On May 30, 1908, voice actor Mel Blanc was born in San Francisco, California. Nicknamed “The Man of a Thousand Voices,” Blanc is regarded as one of the most influential people in the history of voice acting.  Image: Mel Blanc / Wikimedia Commons Although he began his nearly six-decade long career performing in radio commercials, Blanc is best remembered for his work with Warner Bros. He brought to life a plethora of memorable Looney Tunes cartoons,… Read the full story

Today we remember President John F. Kennedy, who was born on this day in 1917. Image: John F. Kennedy / NASA, Flickr John Fitzgerald Kennedy was born on May 29, 1917 in Brookline, Massachusetts. The second of nine children born to Joseph “Joe” Kennedy and Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald, John was frequently ill as a child. His older brother, Joe, had been pegged to be the family’s political standard-bearer and was expected by his father to seek the… Read the full story

Today we remember athlete Jim Thorpe, who was born on this day in 1888. Considered one of the most versatile athletes of modern sports, Thorpe was not only an Olympic champion, but also played professional football, baseball, and basketball. Image: Jim Thorpe / Library of Congress Thorpe was born in Indian Territory near the town of Prague, Oklahoma to Hiram Thorpe and Charlotte Vieux. Thorpe had a mix of European and Native American ancestry and… Read the full story

Have you found your connection to the British royal family? On this day in 1819, Queen Victoria was born in Kensington Palace in London, England. Image: Queen Victoria / Library of Congress She was the daughter of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn, who was the fourth son of King George III. At the time of her birth, she was the fifth in the line of succession. While she was still an infant, her grandfather and… Read the full story

On this day in 1707, Swedish botanist and zoologist Carl Linnaeus was born. Known as the “father of modern taxonomy,” Linnaeus is best remembered for formalizing the modern system of naming organisms. Image: Carl Linnaeus / Nationalmuseum, Sweden Linnaeus was born in the village of Råshult in Småland, Sweden to Nicolaus (Nils) Linnaeus, a pastor, and Anna Christina Brodersonia. His father was an avid gardener and introduced Linnaeus to the world of botany at an… Read the full story

On this day in 1859, author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. A prolific writer, Doyle is best remembered for his creation of private detective Sherlock Holmes. He wrote four novels and over fifty short stories featuring the fictional detective. Image: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle / Library of Congress Doyle was born to a prosperous Irish family. He studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh Medical School, where he first began writing… Read the full story

Remember the tongue twister, “She sells seashells on the seashore?” On this day 225 years ago, Mary Anning, the English fossil collector and pioneering paleontologist who inspired the tongue twister, was born. Image: Mary Anning / Wikimedia Commons Anning grew up in the coastal town of Lyme Regis in Dorset, England. Her father, Richard Anning, was a cabinetmaker and supplemented his income by selling curiosities found along the coastal cliffside near the town to tourists…. Read the full story

Today we remember actor James Stewart, who was born on this day in 1908. Image: James Stewart / U.S. Air Force Stewart was the eldest of three children born to Alexander Maitland Stewart and Elizabeth Ruth Jackson. He got his first taste of performing while a student at Princeton University. Although he earned a degree in architecture, Stewart would ultimately choose to pursue an acting career after graduating college. He began his career on stage before finding… Read the full story

On this day in 1749, English physician and scientist Edward Jenner was born. Jenner is best remembered for pioneering the vaccine for smallpox. Image: Edward Jenner / Library of Congress Edward Anthony Jenner was born on May 17, 1749 in Berkeley, Gloucestershire, England. His father was the vicar of Berkeley and believed firmly in a strong education. A country doctor, Jenner was familiar with local folklore that milkmaids who had contracted cowpox, a mild disease, often… Read the full story

Taylor Swift recently kicked off the European leg of her record-breaking Eras Tour with a fresh new era added to the setlist in honor of her latest album, The Tortured Poets Department. Before the start of her Paris concert, MyHeritage shared with the world Swift’s connection to French royalty, the former King of France, Louis XIV. The interesting path can be traced through Geni’s World Family Tree, which shows that Swift and the Sun King… Read the full story

Today we remember actor Henry Fonda, who was born on this day in 1905. Remembered as a legend in Hollywood, Fonda’s remarkable career spanned over five decades. Image: Henry Fonda / Wikimedia Commons, U.S. Navy Fonda was born on May 16, 1905 in Grand Island, Nebraska to William Brace Fonda, a printer, and Herberta Jaynes. Fonda’s Dutch ancestry can be traced back to the early settlers of upstate New York in the small village of Fonda…. Read the full story

Do you love the story of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz? Author L. Frank Baum was born on May 15, 1856 in Chittenango, New York. Image: L. Frank Baum / Library of Congress A popular writer, Baum is best remembered for his story of Dorothy and her dog Toto and their adventure home after a tornado transports them to the magical land of Oz. First published on May 17, 1900, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was a commercial… Read the full story

Happy birthday to George Lucas! Today the Star Wars creator turns 80. Image: Nicolas Genin, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) The iconic filmmaker was born George Walton Lucas, Jr. on May 14, 1944 in Modesto, California. He was the son of Dorothy Bomberger and George Walton Lucas,Sr. As a teen, he formed an interest in filmmaking and car-racing. He spent much of his years in high school racing cars until experiencing a near-fatal car crash at… Read the full story

On this day in 1922, actress Bea Arthur was born. An Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress, Arthur is perhaps best remembered for her roles in Maude and The Golden Girls. Image: Bea Arthur / Photo by Alan Light, Wikimedia Commons CC BY 2.0 Arthur was born Bernice Frankel on May 13, 1922 in New York City, New York to Philip Frankel and Rebecca Pressner. During World War II, Arthur enlisted as one of the first… Read the full story

Today we remember Hollywood icon Fred Astaire, who was born on this day in 1899. Remembered as one of the most influential dancers in the history of film and television musicals, Astaire’s impressive career spanned a total of 76 years.  Image: Fred Astaire / Wikimedia Commons Astaire got his start as a dancer at the tender age of four. By the age of six, he was performing along with his sister Adele as a popular vaudeville act. The siblings changed… Read the full story

Do you remember the story of Peter Pan? On May 9, 1860, playwright J.M. Barrie was born in Kirriemuir, Scotland. Image: J.M. Barrie / National Science and Media Museum, Flickr James Matthew Barrie was the ninth child of ten born to a conservative Calvinist family. He moved to London to pursue a career as a novelist and playwright. It was there that he first met the Llewelyn Davies boys, who would inspire him to write of… Read the full story

Do you have Mexican ancestry? On this day in 1753, Mexican Roman Catholic priest and leader of the Mexican War of Independence, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, was born. Image: Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla / Library of Congress Hidalgo was the second child born to Don Cristóbal Hidalgo y Costilla and Doña Ana María Mandarte Villaseñor. In 1779, he entered the priesthood and later became the parish priest in Dolores, Guanajuato. Hidalgo worked hard for the… Read the full story

On this day in 1812, English poet and playwright Robert Browning was born in London, England. A prolific poet, Browning was known as one of the leading Victorian writers of his era. Image: Robert Browning / Library of Congress Browning was the only son born to Sarah Ann Widermann and Robert Browning, who worked as a clerk for the Bank of England. His paternal grandfather was a slave owner in the West Indies, but Browning’s father opposed slavery,… Read the full story

Legendary filmmaker Orson Welles was born on May 6, 1915. Welles was known as one of the greatest radio and cinema artists of the era.  Image: Orson Welles / Wikimedia Commons, Library of Congress Early in his career, Welles juggled work in the theater with his extensive work as a radio actor, writer, director and producer. His famous live broadcast of H.G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds caused widespread panic after many listeners mistakenly believed the show to… Read the full story

On this day in 1903, legendary entertainer Bing Crosby was born. Image: Bing Crosby / U.S. National Archives and Records Administration He was born Henry Lillis Crosby, Jr. on May 3, 1903 in Tacoma, Washington. The fourth of seven children, Crosby loved to listen to music on his phonograph as a child and enjoyed reading the comedy feature “The Bingville Bugle” in the Sunday edition of the Spokesman-Review. His love for the comic earned him the nickname “Bingo… Read the full story

Russian Empress Catherine II, also known as Catherine the Great, was born on this day in 1729. Image: Catherine II of Russia / New York Public Library She was born Sophie Friederike Auguste and was the daughter of a poor German prince. In 1745, she married Peter III, who was the heir to the Russian Empire. After the death of Empress Elizabeth in 1762, Peter III succeeded the throne as Emperor. However, his reign would last… Read the full story

Frontierswoman and sharp-shooter Calamity Jane was born on this day in 1852. Image: Calamity Jane / Library of Congress The legend of Calamity Jane was known throughout the Wild West. However, little hard facts are known about her life and much of what was said was likely embellished or fabricated by writers and storytellers of the day. She was born Martha Jane Canary in Princeton, Missouri and by the age of 12, both of her parents had… Read the full story

Do you have Dutch ancestry? On this day in 1909, Juliana of the Netherlands  was born. She reigned as Queen of the Netherlands from 1948 until her abdication in 1980. Image: Juliana of the Netherlands / Nationaal Archief Born in the Hague, Juliana was the only child of Dutch monarch Queen Wihelmina and Prince Henry of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Juliana was the first Dutch royal baby to be born since her mother’s birth in 1880. Her mother had suffered two miscarriages and… Read the full story

Today we celebrate Jazz legend Duke Ellington, who was born on this day 125 years ago. Image: Duke Ellington / Library of Congress He was born Edward Kennedy Ellington on April 29, 1899 in Washington, D.C. to James Edward Ellington and Daisy Kennedy, both pianists. With musically talented parents, Ellington was encouraged to pursue his interest in music. He began studying the piano at the age of 7 and acquired the nickname “Duke” for his suave and classy demeanor…. Read the full story

Happy birthday to Carol Burnett! Today the beloved comedic actress celebrates her 91st birthday. Image: Carol Burnett / U.S. National Archives and Records Administration Born on April 26, 1933 in San Antonio, Texas, Burnett caught the acting bug at a young age. After her parents divorced in the late 1930s, she was sent to live with her grandmother in a boarding house in Hollywood, California. In the second grade, she briefly invented an imaginary twin sister named Karen and… Read the full story

On this day in 1917, American Jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald was born in Newport News, Virginia. One of the most beloved Jazz vocalist of all time, Fitzgerald had an extraordinary vocal range spanning three octaves. Image: Ella Fitzgerald / Library of Congress Fitzgerald was born on April 25, 1917 to William Fitzgerald and Temperance Fitzgerald. From a young age, she was passionate about dancing and singing and spent hours listening to Jazz records her mother brought home. She… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Kelly Clarkson! Today the singer turns 42. Image: Kelly Clarkson / NPS, Marcey Frutchey, Wikimedia Commons Clarkson was born on April 24, 1982 in Fort Worth, Texas to Jeanne Ann Rose, a teacher, and Stephen Michael Clarkson, a former engineer. The youngest of three children, Clarkson’s parents divorced when she was 6. Her third great grandfather, Isaiah R. Rose, served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. During the war, he was captured and… Read the full story

On April 23, 1928, star Shirley Temple was born. Image: Shirley Temple / National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution CC0 Temple was born in Santa Monica, California to Gertrude Temple, a homemaker, and George Temple, a banker. She began taking dancing lessons at the age of 3 and was soon spotted by a casting director for Baby Burlesks, a series of comedy shorts satirizing recent films with preschool-aged children starring in every role. She soon was… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Jack Nicholson! Today the actor turns 87. Image: Jack Nicholson / Georges Biard, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) Nicholson was born on April 22, 1937 in Neptune, New Jersey. For the first 37 years of his life, Nicholson believed his parents were John Nicholson and Ethel Rhoads. In 1974, a Times reporter researching a cover story on Nicholson discovered that the person Nicholson believed to be his older sister June was in… Read the full story

On this day in 1882, Charles Darwin died at his home, the Down House, in Kent at the age of 73. Considered to be one of the most influential scientific minds in history, Darwin’s work transformed the world’s understanding of nature. Image: Charles Darwin / Library of Congress Darwin was born on February 12, 1809 in his family home, The Mount, in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England. The fifth of six children, Darwin came from a line… Read the full story

On this day in 1775, Paul Revere and William Dawes set out on horseback to warn the American colonies of approaching British troops. Revere’s role in the famous ride would later be immortalized in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem, “Paul Revere’s Ride.” Image: Paul Revere’s ride / U.S. National Archives and Records Administration Late in the night on April 18, British troops began marching towards Lexington and Concord to capture Patriot leaders Samuel Adams and John Hancock. Taking separate… Read the full story

Do you enjoy baseball? On this day in 1820, Alexander Cartwright, the “Father of Modern Baseball,” was born in New York City, New York.  Image: Alexander Cartwright / Hawaii State Archives, Wikimedia Commons Alexander Joy Cartwright, Jr. was the son of Alexander Cartwright, Sr., a merchant sea captain, and Esther Rebecca Burlock. A volunteer firefighter, Cartwright often played bat-and-ball games with other volunteers. He founded the Knickerbocker Base Ball Club in New York and is often credited with… Read the full story

Silent film star Charlie Chaplin was born on April 16, 1889 in London, England. Image: Charlie Chaplin / Library of Congress In a true rags-to-riches story, Chaplin grew up in poverty and became one of the most successful actors in the industry. He endured several hardships early in his life. His father abandoned the family when he was very young, while his mother suffered from a mental illness that kept her in-and-out of the asylum…. Read the full story

April 15 marks the anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Every year the public’s imagination is captured by the infamous ship along with its harrowing stories of survival and loss. Amongst one of the crew was stewardess Violet Jessop, who would experience more than one maritime disaster in her lifetime. She remarkably survived not only the sinking of the Titanic, but also a second disaster at sea on the HMHS Britannic only a… Read the full story

On this day in 1452, Renaissance Man Leonardo da Vinci was born in Vinci in the Republic of Florence. Image: Leonardo da Vinci / Library of Congress A gifted and extremely talented individual, da Vinci’s genius ranged from science, arts, mathematics, engineering, astronomy, architecture, and much more. Some of his greatest artistic masterpieces include the Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, and the Vitruvian Man. A brilliant inventor and engineer, da Vinci designed and illustrated concepts… Read the full story