On This Day May 13th

 OTD

May 13th is the one-hundred-sixteenth day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 233 days remain until the end of the year.

 

Events

1501 – Amerigo Vespucci set sail for western lands, this time under the Portuguese flag.

1654 – A Venetian fleet under Admiral Cort Adeler breaks through a line of galleys and defeats the Turkish navy.

1780 – The Cumberland Compact was signed by leaders of the settlers in the Cumberland River area of what would become the U.S. state of Tennessee, providing for democratic government and a formal justice system.

1830 – Ecuador gains its independence from Gran Colombia

1861 – The Great Comet of 1861 is discovered by John Tebbutt of Windsor, New South Wales, Australia.

1912 – The Royal Flying Corps, the forerunner of the Royal Air Force, was established in the United Kingdom.

1917 – Three children report the first apparition of Our Lady of Fátima in Fátima, Portugal.

1943 – World War II: Operations Vulcan and Strike force the surrender of the last Axis troops in Tunisia.

1950 – The inaugural Formula One World Championship race occurs at Silverstone Circuit. The race was won by Giuseppe Farina, who would become the inaugural champion that year.

1989 – Large students occupied Tiananmen Square and began a hunger strike.

1995 – Alison Hargreaves, a 33-year-old British mother, becomes the first woman to conquer Everest without oxygen or the help of sherpas.

 

Birthdays

1588 – Ole Worm, Danish physician and historian (d. 1654)

1713 – Alexis Clairaut, French mathematician, astronomer, and geophysicist (d. 1765)

1842 – Arthur Sullivan, English composer (d. 1900)

1856 – Tom O'Rourke, American boxer and manager (d. 1938)

1909 – Ken Darby, American composer and conductor (d. 1992)

1914 – Joe Louis, American boxer (d. 1981)

1922 – Bea Arthur, American actress and singer (d. 2009)

1938 – Buck Taylor, American actor

1945 – Magic Dick, American blues-rock harmonica, trumpet, and saxophone player

 

Holiday Highlight

Tulip Day

The origins of Tulip Day are mainly unknown. However, the tulip flower itself, with its rich and colorful history, is a marvel to behold. It all began in Central Asia, where the tulip flower grew wild, a testament to nature's beauty. However, it wasn’t until around 1000 A.D. in Turkey, where it was grown for medicinal purposes, that humans began to appreciate its beauty. It grew in popularity in the Ottoman Empire during the 16th century, such that it became a favorite of the Sultan, who demanded its cultivation for his enjoyment. In the 18th century, the ‘Tulip Era’ or the ‘Age of the Tulips’ began, with the flower’s fame rising to dizzying heights. It even became a crime punishable by exile to buy or sell tulips outside the empire’s capital, a testament to its value and allure.

The tulip debuted in Europe when a biologist called Carolus Clusius began planting it in Holland, Netherlands, during the 16th century. The University of Leiden hired Clusius to perform research on medicinal plants. Clusius’ Turkish friend, the ambassador of Constantinople (Istanbul), sent tulips to him for the project. This was the genesis of the tulip bulb fields in the Netherlands, which still exist today.

In the 17th century, the tulip moved from being merely medicinal and became a garden flower for beautification, causing prices to soar. This eventually led to ‘Tulipomania’ or ‘Tulip Mania,’ a period when tulips became so sought-after that they became a currency of sorts, a fascinating twist in history. The love of tulips became so frenzied that people would exchange their property for a single tulip, a testament to their value. The Dutch government even had to restrict tulip trading, a sign of the times. Eventually, the tulip market crashed in 1637, leaving those with heavy investments in the flower at the losing end. Today, tulips are still associated with the Netherlands, the world’s largest producer of tulip bulbs, a lasting legacy of this intriguing period.

 

Holidays And Observance

Children of Fallen Patriots Day

Cough Drop Day

Frog Jumping Day

IEEE Global Engineering the Future Day

International Hummus Day

National Apple Pie Day

National Fruit Cocktail Day

National Leprechaun Day

National Women's Check-up Day

Top Gun Day

Tulip Day

World Cocktail Day

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

In This Day December 3rd

  O.T.D December 3rd is the three hundred thirty-third day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 33 days remain until the end of the year. Events 1775—American Revolutionary War: The USS Alfred becomes the first vessel to fly the Grand Union Flag (the precursor to the Stars and Stripes); John Paul Jones hoists the flag. 1800 – United States presidential election: The Electoral College casts votes for president and vice president that result in a tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr. 1854 – Battle of the Eureka Stockade: More than 20 gold miners at Ballarat, Victoria, are killed by state troopers in an uprising over mining licenses. 1898 – The Duquesne Country and Athletic Club defeats an all-star collection of early football players 16–0 in the first all-star game for professional American football. 1904 – Charles Dillon Perrine discovers the Jovian moon Himalia at California's Lick Observatory. 1910 – Georges Claude first demonstrates modern neon lighting at the Paris Moto...
Read more

The Lightning Mind of Benjamin Franklin: Innovator, Statesman, and Sage

Image
   Benjamin Franklin, one of the most extraordinary figures in American history, was born on January 17, 1706, in Boston, Massachusetts. His life spanned an era of remarkable change and progress, and Franklin himself was a driving force behind much of this transformation.  Franklin's thirst for knowledge was evident from a young age. Born into a modest family, he had limited formal education but compensated for this with an insatiable curiosity and a passion for self-learning. His early exposure to books and learning, mainly through his apprenticeship at his brother's printing shop, laid the foundation for his lifelong pursuit of knowledge.  Regarding Franklin's IQ, it's important to note that the concept of IQ (Intelligence Quotient) and IQ tests were not developed during Franklin's lifetime. Thus, it's impossible to accurately state his IQ. However, his broad range of achievements and intellectual pursuits indicate high intelligence and creativity.  Franklin e...
Read more

On This Day January 13th

 OTD January 13th is the Thirteenth day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 352 days remain until the end of the year.   Events 27 BC – Octavian transfers the state to the Roman Senate's and the people's free disposal. He receives Spain, Gaul, and Syria as his province for ten years. 532 – The Nika riots break out during the racing season at the Hippodrome in Constantinople because of discontent with the rule of Emperor Justinian 1815 – War of 1812: British troops capture Fort Peter in St. Mary’s, Georgia, the only battle of the war to take place in the state. 1888 – The National Geographic Society is founded in Washington, D.C. 1910 – The first public radio broadcast takes place; a live performance of the operas Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci is sent out over the airwaves from the Metropolitan Opera House in New York. 1920 – The Reichstag Bloodbath of January 13, 1920, the bloodiest demonstration in German history. 1966 – Robert C. Weaver became the f...
Read more