Notable anniversaries

[georgersweir]

23rd December

• 1893: The opera Hansel and Gretel by Engelbert Humperdinck is first performed.
  1953: Birth in London of Belinda Lang, English actress.
  1955: Birth in Glasgow of Carol Ann Duffy, Scottish poet and playwright.
  1979: Birth in Edinburgh of Kenny Miller, Scottish footballer.

[georgersweir]

24th December

• 1724: General George Wade appointed Commander-in-Chief of the British army in Scotland.
  1818: The first performance of Silent Night takes place in Oberndorf, Austria.
  1905: Birth in Texas of Howard Hughes, American businessman, engineer, and pilot (d. 1976).
  1969: Birth in Coatbridge of Mark Millar, Scottish author.

[georgersweir]

25th December

• 1745: The Jacobite army reached Glasgow.
  1944: Birth in Liverpool of Kenny Everett, English comedian, actor, and radio host (d. 1995).
  1950: Four young Scots retrieve the Stone of Destiny from Westminster Abbey.
  1971: Birth in London of Dido, English singer-songwriter.

[georgersweir]

26th December

• 1871: Gilbert and Sullivan collaborate for the first time, on their lost opera (Thespis).
  1914: Birth in Minnisota of Richard Widmark, American film, stage and television actor (d. 2008).
  1939: Birth in New York of Phil Spector, American singer-songwriter and producer.
  1982: Birth in Waterford of Noel Hunt, Irish footballer.

[georgersweir]

27th December

• 1822: Birth in Dole, France of Louis Pasteur, French chemist and microbiologist (d. 1895).
  1831: Charles Darwin embarks on his journey aboard the HMS Beagle.
  1952: Birth in Glasgow of David Knopfler, Scottish singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer.
  1991: Birth in Livingston of Danny Wilson, Scottish footballer.

[georgersweir]

28th December

• 1795: Construction begins in Toronto of Yonge Street, once the longest street in the world.
  1798: Birth in Dundee of Thomas Henderson, Scottish astronomer and mathematician (d. 1844).
  1906: Rail disaster at Elliott Junction, near Arbroath, kills 22.
  1939: Birth in Glasgow of Frank McLintock, Scottish footballer.

[georgersweir]

29th December

• 1851: The first American YMCA opens in Boston, Massachusetts.
  1959: The Lisbon Metro begins operation.
  1969: Birth in Dumfries of Allan McNish, Scottish race car driver.
  1970: Birth in Bangor of Aled Jones, Welsh singer and television host.

[georgersweir]

30th December

• 1899: The Albion Motor Company is established (merges with Leyland in 1951).
  1915: Cruiser 'Natal' explodes in Cromarty harbour, killing 405.
  1925: Birth in Glasgow of Ian MacNaughton, Scottish actor, producer and director (d. 2002).
  1961: Birth in Glasgow of Charlie Nicholas, Scottish footballer.

[georgersweir]

31st December

• 1830: Birth in Kilmarnock of Alexander Smith, Scottish poet and critic (d. 1867).
  1941: Birth in Glasgow of Alex Ferguson, Scottish footballer and manager.
  1948: Birth in Edinburgh of Sandy Jardine, Scottish footballer and manager (d. 2014).
  1969: Birth in Arbroath of Dominik Diamond, Scottish radio and television host.

[georgersweir]

1st January

• 1600: First celebration of New Year in Scotland on this date (formerly on March 25).
  1800: New Lanark Twist Company founded, with Robert Owen as manager.
  1967: Birth in Drumchapel of Sharon Small, Scottish actress.
  1969: Birth in Aberdeen of Paul Lawrie, Scottish golfer and journalist.

[georgersweir]

2nd January

• 1833: Reassertion of British sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.
  1938: Birth in London of David Bailey, English photographer and painter.
  1870: Construction begins on the Brooklyn Bridge across the East River, New York City.
  1942: Birth in Liverpool of Ray Moore, English radio host (d. 1989).

[Hughie]

1870: Construction begins on the Brooklyn Bridge across the East River, New York City.

If I ever get back to NYC I'll have to walk the Brooklyn Bridge. Documentaries on how it was built are very interesting. If you get a chance have a gander - it's not only divers who get the bends.

Anyway it's on my bucket list!