This Date in History - July 14

 

Happy birthday to Rosey Grier.   He's a big guy so you can't really make fun of his name.

1769:  AN EXPEDITION LED BY GASPAR DE PORTOLA LEAVES ITS BASE IN CALIFORNIA AND SETS OUT TO FIND THE PORT OF MONTEREY.

I'm hearing the 405 is jammed.

1789:  THE STORMING OF THE BASTILLE IN PARIS.

Hence the holiday every July 14 in France.

1853:  OPENING OF THE FIRST MAJOR US WORLD'S FAIR IN NEW YORK CITY.

Book your class trips now.   

1864:  THE FIRST ASCENT OF THE MATTERHORN IS COMPLETED BY EDWARD WHYMPER AND HIS PART.  FOUR DIE ON THE DESCENT.

What goes up doesn't necessarily come down.

1874:  THE CHICAGO FIRE OF 1874 BURNS DOWN 47 ACRESS OF THE CITY.

Given the state of the lunatics in that city, we need to revisit in 2021.

1881:  OUTLAW BILLY THE KID IS SHOT AND KILLED BY SHERIFF PAT GARRETT IN NEW MEXICO.

Ballad by Billy Joel coming.

1894:  ANIMATOR DAVE FLEISCHER IS BORN.

Co-creator of the Popeye cartoon!

1912:  SINGER WOODY GUTHRIE IS BORN.

In his honor, don't use soap today.

1913:  US PRESIDENT GERALD FORD IS BORN.   

Truly one of the most underrated...and moderate Chief Executives.

1918:  DIRECTOR INGMAR BERGMAN IS BORN.

Show of hands from all people who understand his movies.  I see none.

1930:  SINGER POLLY BERGEN IS BORN.

My grandmother thought she was a show off.

1932:  FOOTBALL PLAYER ROSEY GRIER IS BORN.

"Get the gun.  Break his finger if you have to."

1933:  IN A DECREE, HITLER ABOLISHES ALL GERMAN POLITICAL PARTIES EXCEPT THE NAZIS.

An act later attempted by both the Republicans and the Democrats.

1938:  ACTIVIST JERRY RUBIN IS BORN.

Love his sandwiches.

1943:  IN MISSOURI, THE GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER MONUMENT BECOMES THE FIRST US MONUMENT IN HONOR OF AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN.

Nobody is tearing that one down in 2021.

1960:  JANE GOODALL ARRIVES IN TANZANIA TO BEGIN HER STUDY OF CHIMPS IN THE WILD.

She could have done the same thing if we went to a Phillies game.

1965:  MARINER 4 TAKES THE FIRST CLOSE-UP PHOTOS OF MARS.  IT TAKES SIX HOURS FOR THE PICTURES TO BE TRANSMITTED BACK TO EARTH.

And six days for developing at Fotomat.

1965:  POLITICIAN ADLAI STEVENSON DIES.   

That sign which hit him in the head in 1963 must have been heavy.

Dinner last night:  Salad.