Today’s posting starts with Prime Minister of Great Britain who didn’t have to worry about people disagreeing and taking him to court – Henry Pelham was first past the (bed) post in 1694. Chief mutineer on HMS Bounty, Fletcher Christian didn’t rebel over his birth date in 1764. Poet who came up with, ‘The boy stood in the burning deck’ – Felicia Dorothea Hemans didn’t get to hear her parents say, ‘To the newborn’ in 1793. Architect known for building the first skyscraper – William LeBaron Jenney started off on the ground floor in 1832. Palaeontologist Karl Alfred von Zittel broke through the crust in 1839. Inventor of the carpet sweeper, Melville Ruben Bissell was unable to sweep his birth date under the carpet from 1843. Seventh Prime Minister of Australia, William Morris ‘Billy’ Hughes expelled himself for the very first time in 1862. Nobel prize winning writer William Cuthbert Faulkner didn’t give his parents the big sleep from 1897. Founder of Geographer’s A-Z Map Company – Phyllis Isobella Pearson didn’t take the wrong turn in 1906. Another Antipodean, 31st Prime Minister from the land of Kiwis and All Blacks, not forgetting their weak and gassy beer, Lion – Robert David ‘Rob’ Muldoon thought big in 1921. Spoonerism King and other half of The Two Ronnies, Ronald William George ‘Ronnie’ Barker had to wait a few years from 1929 before he could eat porridge. Astrologer Patric Walker had the stars align in 1931. Another comedy actor, Brian Trevor John Murphy – hen pecked husband to Yootha Joyce in classic 70’s sit-com George & Mildred, was hatched in 1932. Actor known for his role in The Day of the Jackal – Jean Bernard de Chieusses de Combaud de Roquebrune, who’s taken that down to Jean Sorel, may have been made in Italy but was born in Marseille back in 1934. Flamboyant Hindi actor Feroz Khan wasn’t a dancing dervish from 1939. Also born that year British MP and Cabinet Minister, before jumping on the EU bandwagon – Leon Brittain was quite a conservative child. Recovering sex maniac, son of Kirk and husband to Catherine, Michael Kirk Douglas shone through in 1944. Supplement queen and another 70’s sit-com star who found fame in The Good Life, Felicity Ann Kendall was in the theatre longer than thirty minutes in 1946. Other half to Linda, (no, not Paul), but Cecil Womack wasn’t able to express himself in 1947. Actor known for his voiceover work as well as playing Luke Skywalker in dull film franchise Star Wars – Mark Richard Hamill caught the slipstream in 1951. Superman, (until his horse bucked and put him in an electric wheelchair), otherwise known as Christopher Reeve, had his great escape in 1952. Singer/songwriter born Adelmo Fornaciari, but known as Zucchero was unable to say, ‘Bambino yo, bambino tú’ in 1955. Actress and ex-Mrs Tommy Lee & ex-Mrs Richie Sambora, Heather Deen Locklear started going places from 1961. Slapping actor Willard Carroll ‘Will’ Smith Jr., was the fresh prince in 1968. Having mentioned her old man above, here’s his Mrs as Catherine Zeta Jones will also be trying to blow the candles out before tucking into the birthday cake in celebration of her 54th birthday. Cheating, (and now dead), cricketer Wessel Johannes ‘Hansie’ Cronje managed to fix his birthdate from 1969. Cheeky Geordie game show host, presenter of other dull programmes thought up by Simon Cowell’s company and who can forget their music, (actually, I’d like to do just that), Declan Joseph Oliver ‘Dec’ Donnelly, (or is it Ant McPartlin?), came to be in 1975. Model Jodie Kidd was a mere baby in 1978. Actor, singer etc., Donald McKinley Glover Jr. also known as Childish Gambino, joined the mystery team in 1983.
As for deaths, the Battle of Stamford Bridge occurred in 1066 leading to the deaths of Tostig Godwinson and Harald III of Norway, unfortunately, it was 950 years before José Mourinho was resident there. Pope Clement VII features given he went to meet his maker in 1534. Baroque composer Johann Christoph Pez dispensed himself in 1716. Third son of timbrel enthusiasts William & Catherine, Herbert Henry Howard Booth stopped flogging The War Cry and found himself ‘promoted to glory’ in 1926. Talking stage actress and silent movie star being original Snow White – Helen Marguerite Clark didn’t have the fortunes of Fifi in 1940. Etiquette expert Emily Post made her polite excuses and left us in 1960. Nicolas Poliakoff or as the coulrophobics knew him Coco the Clown, found he didn’t have to wear makeup after 1974. Drummer with rock band Led Zeppelin, John Henry Bonham took his stairway to heaven in 1980. King of the Belgians, (though not too sure whether it was for the Walloons or Flemish), Léopold III abdicated in 1983. Actor Walter Pidgeon could have done with more than a two minute warning in 1984. Dead Norwegian of the day, linguist Hans Vogt found he lost his voice, (amongst other things) in 1986. Actress born Lucile Vasconcellos Langhanke, before going onto be known as Mary Astor had a kiss before dying in 1987. Nazi war criminal Klaus Barbie aka ‘the Butcher of Lyon’ hung on until 1991. Singer Howard Andrew ‘Andy’ Williams certainly wasn’t warm and willing from 2012. Songwriter and member of Heatwave – Rodney Lynn ‘Rod’ Temperton was too hot to handle in 2015. Finally, actor and old man to Cherie Blair – Anthony George ‘Tony’ Booth entered the pit of darkness in 2017.
With thanks to http://www.onthisday.com for filling in the gaps.
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