Anniversaries and commemorations come and go daily. Most of us, even the best historians, miss most occasions. If we think of history as events then we are faced with a continually showering in the grains of sand. Nevertheless, we do pick out certain patterns in the remembrance of historical dates. The blog here reminds us of some dates where the local, state, national, and global perspectives entwine.
On 10, Friday December 1869, The first American chapter of Kappa Sigma is founded, at the University of Virginia.
On 10, Friday December 1869, Women’s suffrage: The Wyoming territorial legislature gives women the right to vote, the first such law in the world.
On 10, Monday December 1894, William Sydney Marchant, British colonial official, born (d. 1953)
On 10, Monday December 1894, Edward Milford, Australian general, born (d. 1972)
On 10, Wednesday December 1919, Keith and Ross Smith, piloting a Vickers Vimy, reach Darwin at the end of the first England to Australia flight.
On 10, Wednesday December 1919, Jean Lee, last woman executed in Australia, born (died 1951)
On 10, Sunday December 1944, Italian conductor Arturo Toscanini leads a concert performance of the first half of Beethoven’s Fidelio (minus its spoken dialogue) on NBC Radio, starring Rose Bampton. He chooses this opera for its political message — a statement against tyranny and dictatorship. Conducting it in German, Toscanini intends it as a tribute to the German people who are being oppressed by Hitler. The second half is broadcast a week later. The performance is later released on LP and CD, the first of 7 operas that Toscanini conducts on radio.
On 10, Monday December 1979, Keiko Nemoto, Japanese voice actress, born
On 10, Monday December 1979, Ann Dvorak, American actress, died (b. 1911)
On 10, Sunday December 1989, Tom Sexton, Australian-Irish rugby player, born
On 10, Sunday December 1989, President of Czechoslovakia Gustáv Husák swears in a new cabinet with a non-Communist and then immediately resigns as president.
On 10, Sunday December 1989, Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj announces the establishment of Mongolia’s democratic movement, that peacefully changes the second-oldest Communist country into a democracy.
On 10, Sunday December 1989, Marion Maréchal-Le Pen, French politician, born
On 10, Saturday December 1994, Matti Klinga, Finnish footballer, born
On 10, Saturday December 1994, Alex Wilson, Canadian athlete, died (b. 1905)
On 10, Friday December 1999, Rick Danko, Canadian musician, died (b. 1943)
On 10, Friday December 1999, Franjo Tuđman, 1st President of Croatia, died (b. 1922)
On 10, Thursday December 2009, James Cameron’s Avatar, has since been the highest-grossing film of all time, premieres in the United Kingdom.
On 10, Wednesday December 2014, Princess Gabriella, Countess of Carladès, born
On 10, Wednesday December 2014, Jacques, Hereditary Prince of Monaco, born
Other On This Day days in history
Neville Buch
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