Going through the "famous people born on this date" lists is a little like a treasure hunt. Sometimes I find three to four people who fit under a broad category or two. That's like finding a vein of gold. Other times, like for today's post, the uniting threads are more like silver gossamer threads.
A scholar-writer, imprisoned for his religious advocacy, no doubt has a courageous mettle similar to the military genius and renowned actress shares a rare depth of creative talent with the unconventional poet.
A scholar-writer, imprisoned for his religious advocacy, no doubt has a courageous mettle similar to the military genius and renowned actress shares a rare depth of creative talent with the unconventional poet.
Happy 380th Birthday to William Penn
Advocate & Writer
Born: October 14, 1644
Birthplace: London, England
Died: July 30, 1718 (73 years old)
William Penn, a notable “gentleman” scholar in history and theology, was expelled from the University of Oxford (England) for his support of the Society of Friends—more commonly known as Quakers—who were subject to religious persecution.
After the 1668 publication of a tract called The Sandy Foundation Shaken, which resulted in false claims that Penn denied the Trinity, he was imprisoned in the Tower of London for eight months.
King Charles II granted Penn the land which later became the Province of Pennsylvania. The “gift” repaid a debt the king owed to Penn’s father. To ensure his legal ownership of the land, Penn also gave a sum of money to the Native Americans with whom he’d developed a relationship.
“My prison shall be my grave before I will budge a jot: for I owe my conscience to no mortal man.”
Happy 134th Birthday to Dwight D. Eisenhower
34th U.S. President (1953-1961) & Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force
Born: October 14, 1890
Birthplace: Denison, Texas
Died: March 28, 1969 (78 years old)
Before he was elected president, Dwight D. “Ike” Eisenhower rose through the U.S. Army military ranks to achieve the prestigious rank of a highly decorated five-star general. His accomplishments as the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force during World War II included the planning and execution of Operation Torch, the 1942-43 invasion of North Africa, and Operation Overlord, the 1944-45 invasion of France and Germany.
After the war ended, he served as president of Columbia University and was NATO’s first supreme commander.
“Ike” wasn’t his only nickname. He was also known as Little Ike, Duckpin, Kansas Cyclone, and General Ike.
Both Alaska (January 3, 1959) and Hawaii (August 21, 1959) became states during his administration.
“A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.”
Happy 131st Birthday to Lillian Gish
Actress
Born: October 14, 1893
Birthplace: Springfield, Ohio
Died: February 27, 1993 (99 years old)
Lillian Gish began her career in the silent film era and—unlike Debbie Reynolds’ antagonist in the classic, Singing in the Rain—made a successful transition to “talkies.”
Her numerous achievements during her decades-long career include the following accolades:
Happy 130th Birthday to e.e. cummings
Poet
Born: October 14, 1894
Birthplace: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Died: September 3, 1962 (almost 68 years old)
I added Edward Estlin Cummings to today’s birthday celebrants because I once wrote an essay about his idiosyncratic poetry called “e. e. cummings: A Celebration of Spont(typographical)neity,” which won an award from the University of Central Florida and publication in the English Department’s Calliope.
Your Turn
Whose birthday party do you most want to attend? You can…
Photos ~ individual photos in public domain; images created with Canva.
William Penn
Her numerous achievements during her decades-long career include the following accolades:
- Named the 17th greatest female star by the American Film Institute;
- Awarded the George Eastman Award (1955);
- Awarded an Academy Honarary Award (1971);
- Awarded Kennedy Center Honors (1982);
- Receiving an American Film Institute Life Achievement Award (1984).
- Miss Gish became a vegetarian as a child—she couldn’t bear the thought of animals being slaughtered for food.
- A photo of her nibbling on a carrot launched a carrot-eating fad.
- She shared a close friendship with Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower.
“What you get is a living—what you give is a life.”
Happy 130th Birthday to e.e. cummings
Poet
Born: October 14, 1894
Birthplace: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Died: September 3, 1962 (almost 68 years old)
I added Edward Estlin Cummings to today’s birthday celebrants because I once wrote an essay about his idiosyncratic poetry called “e. e. cummings: A Celebration of Spont(typographical)neity,” which won an award from the University of Central Florida and publication in the English Department’s Calliope.
“The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful.”
Whose birthday party do you most want to attend? You can…
- Show William Penn around modern-day Philadelphia.
- Discuss WWII military strategy with Ike.
- Eat a salad with Lillian Gish while watching one of her iconic films.
- Wander in the rain with e. e. cummings.
Johnnie Alexander writes “Stories Past and Present” in multiple genres. A fan of classic movies, stacks of books, and road trips, she shares a life of quiet adventure with Rugby, her racoon-treeing papillon. Visit her at johnnie-alexander.com.
Photos ~ individual photos in public domain; images created with Canva.
William Penn
- The first draft of the Frame of Government of Pennsylvania, written by Penn in England in 1681. Dunn / Dunn (eds.) - The Papers of William Penn, Volume Two (1680–1684), University of Pennsylvania.
- West Point yearbook photo, 1915. Unknown author - The Howitzer: The Yearbook of the United States Corps of Cadets, 1915, page 80.
- Major General Dwight Eisenhower, 1942 The Commander of American Forces in the European Theatre, Major General Dwight Eisenhower, at his desk.
- Frontispiece: Miss Lillian Gish as Anna Moore in D. W. Griffith's Production Way Down East. From The Project Gutenberg EBook of Way Down East, by Joseph R. Grismer.
- Bain News Service. This image is available from the United States Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs division.
These birthdays are always fun. And you keep put in a factoid that is new to me.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoy them. They're fun to research!
DeleteThanks for posting today. It's hard to pick who I'd like to spend time with, I'm torn between eating that salad with Lillian Gish or walking along with e.e. Cummings.
ReplyDeleteEither one would probably be a good time!
Delete