Profile of the Day

“You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right.” 62 years ago today, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Her act of defiance would become one of the defining moments of the American Civil Rights movement. On December 1, 1955, Parks was riding home from a long day of work on a segregated bus. After the whites-only section was filled, the bus… Read the full story

Today’s Google Doodle honors British horticulturist and garden designer Gertrude Jekyll on her 174th birthday. Considered one of the most well known and influential garden designers in history, Jekyll created over 400 gardens throughout Europe and the United States. Jekyll was born on November 29, 1843 in London, England. She was the fifth of seven children born to Captain Edward Joseph Hill Jekyll and Julia Hammersley. Her brother, Walter, was a friend of author Robert Louis Stevenson. Stevenson would… Read the full story

We’re sad to hear of the passing of David Cassidy, who died Tuesday at the age of 67. One of the biggest musical and television stars of the 1970s, Cassidy will perhaps be forever remembered as the star of the musical television series, The Partridge Family. Cassidy was born on April 12, 1950 in New York City, New York to singer and actor Jack Cassidy and actress Evelyn Ward. After his parents divorced, his father married actress… Read the full story

People magazine recently named country music star Blake Shelton 2017’s Sexiest Man Alive. Are you a fan? Explore his family tree on Geni and discover how you’re related! The Oklahoma native was born Blake Tollison Shelton on June 18, 1976 to Richard Shelton, a used car salesman, and Dorothy Byrd, a beauty salon owner. His father served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was a member of the Honor Guard. At 14, he lost… Read the full story

“Dr. Livingstone, I presume?” Those were the first words uttered by journalist and explorer Henry Morton Stanley when he found missing explorer David Livingstone on November 10, 1871 in present-day Tanzania. Born John Rowlands in Denbigh, Denbighshire, Wales, Stanley immigrated to the United States at 18 and changed his name. During the American Civil War, he served in both the Confederate and Union armies. After the war, he became a journalist. In 1871, he was commissioned by The New York… Read the full story

Have you found your connection to royalty? On this day in 1841, King Edward VII was born in Buckingham Palace. The eldest son of Prince Albert and Queen Victoria, Edward VII held the record for the longest serving heir-apparent in British history at 59 years, until he was surpassed by his second great grandson Prince Charles in 2011. He was named Albert Edward after his father and his maternal grandfather, Prince Edward Duke of Kent and Strathearn. He was known… Read the full story

Remember watching Little House on the Prairie? On this day in 1936, star Michael Landon was born in Queens, New York. He was born Eugene Maurice Orowitz to Peggy O’Neill, a dancer and comedy actress, and Eli Maurice Orowitz, a theater manager and publicist. Once he started acting school, he changed his name to “Michael Landon” after finding the name in a phone book. In 1959, he landed his first starring role on television on the… Read the full story

Today “The Fonz,” Henry Winkler, celebrates his 72nd birthday! Winkler was born on October 30, 1945 in Manhattan, New York to Ilse Anna Marie Hadra and Harry Irving Winker, who emigrated from Germany to the United States in 1939. From a young age, Winkler had a passion for acting and earned a MFA from Yale School of Drama in 1967. He caught his big break when he was cast as Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli on the hit television show Happy… Read the full story

On this day in 1881, gunslingers Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp found themselves involved in the infamous gunfight at the O.K. Corral. On October 26, 1881, the long simmering feud between the outlaw Cowboys, Ike and Billy Clanton, and Tom and Frank McLaury, and town Marshal Virgil Earp, and lawmen Morgan and Wyatt Earp, erupted in a 30-second shootout in Tombstone, Arizona. Holliday was a good friend of Earp’s and was assisting as a temporary policeman at the… Read the full story

Today we remember music legend Fats Domino, who passed away at the age of 89. One of rock and roll’s earliest pioneers, Domino’s unique music style influenced generations of musicians. He was born Antoine Domino, Jr. on February 26, 1928 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The eighth child of Antoine Caliste Domino and Marie-Donatille Gros, he was born in his family’s home with the assistance of his grandmother, who was a midwife. His family was Creole and spoke French Creole… Read the full story

Teacher Annie Edson Taylor had a unique way of celebrating her 63rd birthday on October 24, 1901. On that day, Taylor became the first person to survive a trip over Niagara Falls in a barrel. She was born on October 24, 1838 in Auburn, New York and was one of eight children. Taylor grew up comfortably and studied to become a school teacher before marring at the age of 17. However, after her husband died in the Civil War,… Read the full story

Heeere’s Johnny! Today we remember late-night host Johnny Carson on what would have been his 92nd birthday. Do you remember watching the “King of Late Night”? Carson was born on October 23, 1925 in Corning, Iowa to Homer Lloyd Carson and Ruth Elizabeth Hook. He showed a talent for entertainment at a young age and performed public magic shows as “The Great Carsoni.” At the age of 18, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served… Read the full story

On this day in 1469, Isabella I of Castile married Ferdinand II of Aragon. Their marriage brought stability to the kingdoms and paved the way for the unification of Aragon and Castile into the single country of Spain. Isabella was born on April 22, 1451 to John II of Castile and Isabella of Portugal. Isabella and Ferdinand were second cousins, both descending from John I of Castile. Since they were both so closely related, their… Read the full story

Do you remember watching Murder, She Wrote? Today star Angela Lansbury celebrates her 92nd birthday! On October 16, 1925, legendary actress Angela Lansbury was born to an upper middle class family in London, England. She was the daughter of English stage actress Moyna Macgill and Edgar Lansbury, a politician and timber merchant. Her paternal grandfather, George Lansbury, was the leader of the Labor Party. At the age of 9, Lansbury lost her father to stomach cancer. She turned to film… Read the full story

On this day in 1960, the classic sitcom The Andy Griffith Show premiered for the first time on television. The show starred Andy Griffith as a widower and sheriff of the small town of Mayberry and introduced the world to a 6-year-old Ron Howard as his young son, Opie. Rounding out the cast was actor Don Knotts, who played bumbling deputy Barney Fife, and Francis Bavier as the lovable Aunt Bee. Knotts would win five Emmys for his role, three… Read the full story

On this day in 1973, top women’s tennis player Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs in the “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match. King’s triumph on the court not only helped legitimized female professional athletes, but also marked a milestone in women’s equality. Once ranked the top women’s tennis player in the country, King won a total of 39 Grand Slam titles over the course of her tennis career and founded the Women’s Tennis Association. A… Read the full story

Happy 33rd birthday to Prince Harry! The second son of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Princess Diana, Harry is currently fifth in line to the throne, behind his nephew, Prince George, and his niece, Princess Charlotte. He will soon be bumped to sixth after the birth of his brother’s third child. Harry was only 12 years old when his mother died tragically in a car crash. Recently, the Prince has spoken publicly about how he struggled to come… Read the full story

Love chocolate? On this day in 1857, confectioner Milton S. Hershey, founder of the Hershey Chocolate Company, was born in Derry Township, Pennsylvania. The Hersheys were members of Pennsylvania’s Mennonite community. The future confectioner grew up speaking Pennsylvania Dutch on his family’s small farm and didn’t receive much schooling beyond the 4th grade. By the age of 14, he became an apprentice to a master confectioner with the aim of opening his own candy shop. In… Read the full story

Happy 50th birthday to Harry Connick, Jr.! The singer and actor was born Joseph Harry Fowler Connick, Jr. on September 11, 1967 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Both of his parents were prominent lawyers in New Orleans. His father, Joseph Harry Fowler Connick, Sr., was the district attorney of Orleans Parish and his mother, Anita Frances Levy, served as a judge in New Orleans and later a Louisiana Supreme Court justice. They encouraged their son’s early… Read the full story

On August 30, 1797, author Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley was born. She was born in London, England to political philosopher William Godwin, and philosopher and feminist Mary Wollstonecraft. Mary married poet Percy Bysshe Shelley in 1816. Only one of their four children survived beyond infancy, a son named Percy Florence Shelley. She is best known for her first novel, Frankenstein. It was originally published anonymously in 1818 and remains widely read, and has inspired many theatrical and film… Read the full story

On this day in 1485, Richard III of England was killed during the Battle of Bosworth Field, bringing an end to the Plantagenet dynasty. Although Richard III would be king for only 2 years, his short reign would prove to be a turning point in history. He came to power after seizing the throne from his 12-year-old nephew, Edward V. After his brother’s marriage was declared invalid, his children were considered illegitimate, thus making the young Edward… Read the full story

Forty years ago today, Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll, died at the age of 42. The music legend was born on January 8, 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi in a two-room shotgun house built by his grandfather. His twin brother, Jesse, died during childbirth. Although he grew up poor, by the time of his death, Presley had become one of the most successful musicians in history. After exploding into the spotlight with his… Read the full story

Do you love to cook? On this day in 1912, beloved chef Julia Child was born. Julia Carolyn McWilliams was born on August 15, 1912 in Pasadena, California to John McWilliams, Jr., a land manager, and Julia Weston. Her maternal grandfather, Byron Weston, was the founder of the Weston Paper Company and served as the 32nd Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts. The host of the popular cooking show, The French Chef, Child didn’t learn to cook until she… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Dustin Hoffman! Can you believe the actor turns 80 today? Dustin Lee Hoffman was born on August 8, 1937 in Los Angeles, California. He was the second son born to Lillian Gold and Harry Hoffman, who worked as a set decorator at Columbia Pictures. He was named after stage and silent film actor, Dustin Farnum. Hoffman comes from a Jewish family of immigrants from Ukraine, Poland, and Romania. After dropping out of college, Hoffman pursued acting full… Read the full story

Today actress Charlize Theron celebrates her 42nd birthday! The South African star was born on August 7, 1975 in Benoni, in what was then the Transvaal Province of South Africa. An only child, she grew up on her parents’ farm outside of Johannesburg and spent her childhood studying dance. Life at home was difficult. Her father was an alcoholic and was physically abusive. When she was 15, her father violently attacked her mother. Her mother… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Barack Obama! Today he turns 56. On August 4, 1961, Barack Hussein Obama was born in Honolulu, Hawaii to Ann Dunham and Barack Hussein Obama, Sr. His mother was born in Wichita, Kansas and his father was born in Nyanza Province, Kenya. His parents had met while attending the University of Hawaii at Manoa and married just six months before he was born. Growing up, Obama was not close to his father. His… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Martin Sheen! Today the actor turns 77. He was born Ramón Antonio Gerardo Estévez on August 3, 1940 in Dayton, Ohio to immigrant parents. His father, Francisco Estévez, was born in Spain, while his mother, Mary-Ann Phelan, was born in Ireland. As one of ten children, Sheen grew up in a large family. When his mother died when he was 11 years old, the family faced the possibility of separation, either into foster homes… Read the full story

Today we remember author Ernest Hemingway, who was born on this day in 1899. Ernest Miller Hemingway was bon on July 21, 1899 in Oak Park, Illinois to Clarence Edmonds Hemingway, a physician, and Grace Hall, an opera singer and painter. During World War I, Hemingway enlisted with the Red Cross to become an ambulance driver. While at the Italian front, he was severely injured and spent months recuperating in a hospital in Milan. It was… Read the full story

Forty-eight years ago today, astronaut Neil Armstrong made history by becoming the first person to walk on the moon. On the morning of July 16, 1969, Apollo 11 launched from Cape Kennedy carrying astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin. It would be NASA’s first manned mission to the Moon. On July 20, Armstrong and Aldrin landed the lunar module Eagle on the Moon’s surface. The momentous event was broadcasted on live television to audiences around the world…. Read the full story

Happy birthday, Benedict Cumberbatch! Today the Sherlock star turns 41. Cumberbatch was born on July 19, 1976 in London, England to Timothy Carlton and Wanda Ventham, both well-known television actors. His paternal grandfather, Henry Carlton Cumberbatch, was a submarine officer in the British Royal Navy in both World Wars. His great grandfather, Henry Arnold Cumberbatch, was a British diplomate and served as Queen Victoria’s consul in Turkey, Lebanon, and Romania. The actor launched to stardom as Sherlock Holmes in the… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Patrick Stewart! Today the actor turns 77. The Shakespearean trained actor was born on July 13, 1940 in Mirfield, England. He had a difficult childhood and grew up in a poor, abusive household. His father, Alfred Stewart, was a regimental sergeant major in the British Army and suffered from what was then known as combat fatigue, which is closely related to post-traumatic stress disorder. Stewart found solace in acting and participated in plays throughout… Read the full story

On this day in 1724, Swedish aristocrat and scientist Eva Ekeblad was born. She was known for discovering how to make flour and alcohol from potatoes, which significantly reduce famine for years to come. She was born Eva De la Gardie on July 10, 1724 to Magnus Julius De la Gardie, a statesman, and Hedvig Catharina Lilje, who was known for hosting political salons. When potatoes were first introduced into Sweden in 1658, they were only… Read the full story

On this day in 1865, the Salvation Army was founded by William Booth, a London minister, and his wife Catherine. The couple had first established the Christian Mission, which would later become known as the Salvation Army, to help the poor and destitute in London’s East End. They held meetings open to the poorest and the most in need, including alcoholics, criminals and prostitutes. Run with military efficiency modeled after the British Army, the charitable organization soon… Read the full story

Do you remember reading The Scarlet Letter? On this day in 1804, author Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in Salem, Massachusetts. Hawthorne’s third great grandfather, William Hathorne, was the author’s first American ancestor. He was a prominent member of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and even held the positions of magistrate and judge. Hawthorne’s second great grandfather, John Hathorne, was one of the leading judges during the Salem witch trials. He was the only judge involved to never… Read the full story

On this day 155 years ago, Victor Hugo published the final chapter of his epic novel Les Misérables. Victor Marie Hugo was born on February 26, 1802 in Besançon, France. His father, Joseph Léopold Sigisbert Hugo, was a French general and served during the Napoleonic wars. Considered one of the greatest French writers in history, Hugo is best remembered for his novels The Hunchback of Notre-Dame and Les Misérables. A well regarded writer during his lifetime, Hugo was a key… Read the full story

Today we remember Judy Garland, who passed away on this day in 1969. The legendary actress was born Francis Ethel Gumm on June 10, 1922 in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. She was the youngest child of Ethel Marion and Francis Avent Gumm, who had settled in Grand Rapids to run a theater featuring vaudeville acts. As the daughter of former vaudeville actors, Garland got her start on stage at an early age. She made her first public performance at… Read the full story

Happy 35th birthday to Prince William! On June 21, 1982, Prince William Arthur Phillip Louis was born at St. Mary’s Hospital in London. Three decades later, his children, George and Charlotte, would be born in the same hospital. As a child, he had the opportunity to have wider experiences than what is typical for most royal children. His mother, Princess Diana, took the future king and his brother Harry to places such as Walt Disney… Read the full story

On this day in 1840, inventor Samuel Morse received the patent for the telegraph. Samuel Finley Breese Morse revolutionized communication when he invented the single-wire telegraph system. The telegraph transmitted electric pulses over wires, enabling people to send messages over vast distances. Morse developed a code known as Morse code, which used pulses and pauses to communicate along his telegraph system. Morse was inspired to develop a faster means of communication after the death of his… Read the full story

Do you remember watching The Three Stooges? On this day in 1897, Moe Howard was born in Brooklyn, New York. He was born Moses Harry Horwitz to Solomon Horwitz and Jennie Gorovitz and was of Lithuanian Jewish ancestry. The fourth of five brothers, Moe developed an interest in performing early in his life. He got his start as part of the vaudeville act with Ted Healy and His Stooges. Eventually, Moe, along with his brother Curly, and… Read the full story

On this day in 1215, King John of England put his royal seal on the Magna Carta, which established that everyone, including the king and the government, were not above the law. Not only is the Great Charter one of the most famous documents in the world, it is also one of the most important documents in the history of democracy. At the time, King John was facing a political crisis. Rebel barons were opposed to the King’s… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Clint Eastwood! Today the actor turns 87. He was born on May 31, 1930 in San Francisco, California to Clinton Eastwood, Sr. and Ruth Runner. A hefty baby at birth, Eastwood weighed 11 lb 6 oz and was nicknamed “Samson” by the nurses at the hospital. His family had been in North America for many generations. In fact, Eastwood is a direct descendant of Mayflower passenger William Bradford, who is his 10th great grandfather…. Read the full story

Today marks the 40th anniversary of Star Wars! Created by George Lucas, the epic story set in a galaxy far, far away would become a worldwide phenomenon and be beloved by audiences across generations. Since its initial release, the series has expanded into one of the largest franchises of all time. George Lucas was born and raised in Modesto, California to Dorthy Ellinore Bomberger and George Walton Lucas, Sr. He developed a passion for film and cinematography… Read the full story

After a short battle with cancer, James Bond star Roger Moore has died at the age of 89. Moore was born on October 14, 1927 in Stockwell, London, England. He was only child of Lillian “Lily” Pope and George Alfred Moore, a policeman. At the end of World War II, Moore was conscripted for national service with the Royal Army Service Corps at the age of 18. Before taking on the role of 007, Moore found fame… Read the full story

Are you related to the last tsar of Russia? On this day in 1868, Nicholas II was born in St. Petersburg, Russia. The eldest son of Emperor Alexander III and Empress Maria Feodorovna of Russia, Nicholas succeeded his father as emperor after his death in 1894. With little government experience, Nicholas’s rule saw one of the greatest powers in Europe fall into economic and military ruin. He took command of the Russian army during World War I… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Bono! Today the U2 frontman turns 57. He was born Paul David Hewson in Dublin, Ireland. The second son of Bob Hewson and Iris Rankin, Bono lost his mother at the age of 14 when she died of a brain aneurysm after collapsing at her father’s funeral. While still in high school, he joined the band U2 and was nicknamed “Bono Vox,” which means “good voice” in Latin. It wasn’t until the band… Read the full story

Remember watching Little House on the Prairie? Today star Melissa Gilbert turns 53. Gilbert was adopted a day after her birth by comedian Paul Gilbert and actress Barbara Crane, daughter of The Honeymooners creator Harry Crane. With a showbiz family, it was no surprise that Gilbert would also enter the entertainment industry. In 1974, she was cast as the star of the period drama television series Little House on the Prairie, based on Laura Ingalls Wilder’s widely successful book series…. Read the full story

Happy Cinco de Mayo! The holiday commemorates the Mexican Army’s unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. In honor of the holiday, were highlighting Benito Juárez, who was at the time the President of Mexico. After the Mexican-American War, Mexico faced a civil war known as the Reform War that left the country bankrupt. In 1861, Juárez suspended all foreign debt repayments. In response, France, Spain, and Britain sent their naval… Read the full story

Today we remember comedy legend Lucille Ball, who passed away on this day in 1989 at the age of 77. Born on August 6, 1911 in Jamestown, New York, Ball had an itch to perform at a young age. She enrolled in a New York City drama school where she was classmates with actress Bette Davis. However, she was dismissed from the school after a short period due to her shyness to perform. She began… Read the full story

Do you have Italian heritage? On this day in 1874, Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi was born in Bologna, Italy. He was known for his pioneering work on long-distance radio transmission and radio telegraph system. Marconi was born on April 25, 1874 into an Italian noble family. He was the second son born to Giuseppe Marconi, a wealthy Italian aristocrat landowner, and Anna Fenwick Jameson, who was Irish and Scottish. His great grandfather was John Jameson, the founder of… Read the full story

Happy 75th birthday to Barbra Streisand! Barbara Joan Streisand was born on April 24, 1942 in Brooklyn, New York. With music running in her family, it was of no surprise that Streisand would also be a gifted singer. Her mother, Diana Ida Rosen, was a soprano singer when she was young before later becoming a school secretary. Her maternal grandparents emigrated from the Russian Empire, where her grandfather had been a cantor. Streisand knew she wanted to… Read the full story